Tolerance:
Patient endurance of another’s humanness (especially the differences in views and preferences).
(Eph. 4:2, Col. 3:16)
I (Linda) am going to piggy-back on Dave’s post from last week – just a little. With the holiday season in full swing there is a lot of hustle and bustle, spending time with friends and family, decorating, cooking, cleaning, preparing, wrapping etc…. Stress levels can often run a little higher than usual, since time to do tasks and time to get here and there is very limited this time of year. May I ask you to just breathe a bit and slow down for just a moment?
My youngest son is a police officer. He often has to work on the holiday’s during third shift. He has often said that it is not the fact of working on a holiday, but it is dealing with the crazy domestic calls. He explained how some families “get nuts” after spending time together. By the time his shift starts at 8 PM, families begin to lose their tolerance of one another and the calls begin. Granted most of these calls involve families that have been drinking or drugging, but the thought of this just makes me sad.
Our families are unique, aren’t they? Think of your family members. Most of them are different and, if given the choice to befriend him/her as a “non-family-member”, we may not choose to initiate a friendship. 😉 We don’t get to pick our family members, but we are placed in that particular family for a reason. We may never understand the” why”, but one day in Glory that will all be revealed as God chooses! In the meantime, though, can we be tolerant of our family members and be thankful for the individuality that is God-given? This tolerance I am putting forward is not a condescending (“I am better than you”) attitude, but one of loving care that respects the differences and accepts the person as valuable.
I know full well that certain family members can rub us the wrong way. We can often disagree or just not see eye-to-eye, but we still love them, don’t we? Why? Because we are family! Bumps, bruises, laughter, tears, fond/bad memories…all tie us together. Can we celebrate that, at least? Who else knows you from the very beginning of your life?
God’s Word tells us ‘to bear with one another in love (Be tolerant)” and “ be gentle, humble and patient with one another.” (Ephesians 4:2) Will you ask God to remind you this holiday season of Ephesians 4:2? When the room is full, loud, and chaotic, take a moment to breathe it all in and smile! God placed you in this moment and family for a reason of His choosing alone. Is that OK in your heart?
Moments can be stolen away, my friends. I have lost both of my parents and close family members in this year alone . Do I come from a close family…not really, but I have treasured moments that I now hold tightly because there will be no more to come. God gives and takes away. We may not understand, but can we accept?
Enjoy the “crazy times” this year, friends! Be tolerant and patient with your family. Talk about things that you agree on instead of your differences. Play games, laugh, relive fond memories together and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” together with family, as far as it depends upon you!
- How many ways can you think of that Jesus tolerated the selfishness and “humanness” of others? Just about everyone He met required loving “tolerance” – from the disciples – to the elders and teachers of the law – to some of His own unbelieving siblings. Jesus is still lovingly tolerating me in my times of being difficult to love. How about you?
- Linda is asking us to do Ephesians 4:2 this holiday and, well, every day Christ Jesus commands and empowers us to lovingly handle the weaknesses of others as we want to be treated. That is easier for us to talk about than to do, isn’t it? One of the distinguishing qualities of a follower of Christ is to show respect and care for those who differ from us in key areas or are somehow difficult for us to love….for whatever reason.
- When with your family/friends this season, why not ask questions to start conversations on a happy, lighter note? Such as the following: a. What is your happiest memory of this year? b. What is your favorite Christmas memory – gift, place, event, relationships? c. If you could give the ultimate gift to someone, who would that someone be and what would you give?