Weird Wednesday: Let's Get Greeky with It

In this day and age where people can have any information they want in the blink of an eye and the flick of a finger, how does patience come into play? We all get into tizzies when our coffee (or food or whatever) isn't made fast enough or the person behind the counter is a little slower than your favorite cashier. Or maybe your kids haven't finished their homework or chores in enough time to meet your schedule. Any of this sound familiar?


I won't lie (because we all know that's wrong). I have a hard time with patience sometimes. When I allow everything to press down on me and I don't deal with it in a timely manner, I tend to blow my top (which again, we know is wrong, right?). Well, check this out:


In Greek mythology, Penelope was known for her patience. She was born to a father who would rather watch her drown than have a daughter. Luckily she was found and saved by a family of ducks. Of course, her dad saw this, just like most Greeks would have, as an omen. She grew up from then on loved and eventually married Odysseus. He went off to fight in the Trojan War and didn't return for twenty years. 


Penelope waited all that time to for her husband to return. She even wove the same shroud for over three years. Once I have to pull out a row in my crochet work more than twice, I give up. What does this story have to do with you?


God tells us in Colossians 3:12-13 to 
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." 


He further says in Galations 5:22-23:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."


See! There is no law against being nice! or patient! or kind! or, well you get the picture.


So even though it's hard to be patient with the other people surrounding you at times, don't forget, that we are beloved to God. And the next time you're at the coffee counter, take a nice long breathe, put a smile on your face, and wait patiently until your coffee is done. Oh, and don't forget your kindness by saying "Thanks a lot!"