31Mar16

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

When I was in elementary school there was a kid that was so annoying. He wasn't a bully or anything. He just had this way about him that drove me insane. He would say the wrong thing at the wrong time, his voice was that pitch that made you want to scream, and all he talked about were POGs (kids, ask your parents about POGs). I didn't even want to know his name and avoided him at all cost. Later on in the year, or possibly even the next year, I was dealing with some things in my life and found myself on the outside looking in. Guess who was there with me? Yup...Pog kid. I had been indifferent to him and yet he was there for me. Turns out that he is a pretty cool guy.

Sometimes people do things that get right up under our skin. Sometimes that happens consistently. But, we are called to be humble (putting others before ourselves) and gentle (like a basket of puppies in a spring field)and patient (waiting without wanting to punch someone). I like how the rest of the verse goes..."bearing with one another in love." Bearing. Does that sound like fun? Nope. Sometimes bearing with someone in love takes effort. Sometimes it's pog guy. Sometimes it's your roommate. Sometimes it's your spouse. But try doing the first three things first and the last part becomes less "bearing" and more natural.