Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Patience, Kindness and Goodness are next on the list of the fruits of the Spirit.
Patience, kindness and goodness…
Ephesians 4:32 says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Have you ever watched kids play together. There are a lot of different reactions by kids when something happens. But let’s look at this one…Something will happen, and one will get super upset and just sit down cross their arms and tuck their heads. Nothing more is said. Then after a few minutes they are done pouting, so they get up, join the group again and start playing.
This to me showed some patience, kindness and goodness. They were upset sure, but they took the time they needed to keep themselves together, think it through and then go back and join the group. We can often get upset and just lose our patience which then in turn does not show our character of kindness or goodness. But like this child we can stop thinking about the situation, and then decide and go back, if you feel like that’s what you should do. I think we can show many different ways to be tenderhearted and show patience, kindness and goodness they way God would approve. This is a great example of showing kindness, goodness and patience.
Colossians 3:12-13 says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Here we are again hearing almost the exact same thing we just read in the last break in Ephesians 4…. patience, tenderheartedness, kindness, forgiveness.
The making allowance for each other’s faults and forgiving as the Lord forgave you. Easier said than done sometimes.
I’ve lost my cool a few times, my patience was out the window. I was not being kind. Then almost immediately after I threw my fit, I felt guilty and would need to get myself together and apologize. I didn’t show restraint at all and in that no one saw my kindness or goodness they just saw a raw version of pain, hurt and frustration. But when I went back and profusely apologized, they forgave me for my fault. They showed me what it is like to be patient, kind and good.
We will make mistakes and to have others who make allowance for your faults and remember you are a work in progress is a blessing. But through my purposeful goodness and kindness I want to practice patience. I want to focus more on the kindness and goodness God can provide and in that I know that my patients will grow stronger as well.
I am thankful for those who show me who God is through their patience, kindness and goodness.
God is so loving and good. He is always here with us, and He wants us to learn what He has for us.
When thinking about patience, kindness and goodness, I think of Peter walking on the water. He had been following Jesus for a bit and he was still learning. When Jesus came walking on water Peter said I see you but if it is you and not a ghost, call me to you. Jesus said come and Peter went out took a few steps and then started sinking because he took his eyes from Jesus and put then on the situation on the storm.
Jesus’s patience, kindness and goodness shows through. Peter called to him. Jesus went over asked him where his faith was and then helped him back to the boat. But He did it all with compassion.
Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
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