My Longsuffering Father
My Father, You are forgiving, patient, and uncomplaining in all things that we do together. It is so good to know that You are so longsuffering with me. You never cease loving me, no matter what! And every morning is a fresh start with You. You are our light in this dark world. You feel my pain. Thank You!
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “
Lamentations 3:22-23
Jesus knew
Jesus knew that He had to suffer in order to fully understand what we humans experience in suffering. He knew He would be mocked and made fun of. Yet, He agreed to do it! For you. For me.
Understanding
And we, too, more fully understand first of all, – what He suffered for us. And with that, we learn compassion. It is part of the journey toward maturity in the faith. It is part of what grows us to be more Christ-like in our character. The ability and the willingness to walk alongside another in their sadness and grief. To become longsuffering.
Bible Study Group
My Christian “friends” were helping me move my things out of the home of my abuser husband. One of the items was a full length pink gown I had worn during a trip to England many years before. It was for an elegant affair. The Queen’s Royal Marching Band performed for our group. What an amazing opportunity!
My gown was feminine, flowing and a bit frilly. It had a gauze floor length cape decorated with soft ostrich feathers around the edges. The most beautiful thing I had ever owned. I felt so pretty and I fit right in with all the other women in their beautiful gowns.
While we were moving things out of the house and into a van, I’d told my friends the story of that night in England. And then we went about gathering up more things to move out. For them, it was a task to get done quickly. I was feeling a whole range of emotions.
The next week
I arrived at my friend’s home for Bible study group. The “host” opened her door to me, wearing my pink gown. I was speechless. She had taken it without my knowledge. I had been distracted and sad that day. She and my other “friends” were all laughing hysterically about the “foo-foo” dress.
It wasn’t funny to me
I was cut through to my heart. The “background” story I had shared with them that day about the dress. About how pretty it had made me feel, suddenly was turned into a mocking joke at my expense. They didn’t seem to notice how it made me feel. All they could do was yuck it up about the pink ostrich feathers.
Have you ever been mocked or made fun of like that or worse? Have you ever been the brunt of a joke at your expense?
I felt raw and vulnerable
My marriage was ending and they were more like Job’s Miserable Comforters than being a Small Group Support Group. It still hurts a bit, of course, but I can tell you that as the Lord teaches me about His longsuffering, He has given me a wonderful phrase that serves me so well on many occasions. I’d like to share that with you now.
We have two options
We can take it personally and stay hurt
…OR…
We can CHOOSE to TAKE NO offense! The second option is so much for freeing.
And now, to God be the Glory: I CHOOSE daily to live my life with the longsuffering phrase: “I will take no offense”. For this I have Jesus.
Don’t quit, friends. Life is hard, but God is good, as my good friend, Heather says!
KLU GIB
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