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Seeing Patience As Love
by Dr. Gary Chapman
Patience is accepting the imperfections of others. By nature, we so want to be as good as we are; as on time as we are; as organized as we are. The reality - humans are not machines. The rest of the world does not live by your priority list. Your agenda is not their agenda. Patience is giving people freedom to be different.
When is the last time you were impatient? Did your impatience not come from someone failing to live up to your expectations? The bible says, "Love is patient." Love apologizes when in impatience I lash out at you. What if all Christians were patient?
PATIENCE: allowing someone to be imperfect
What would your relationships be like if you....
- Treated everyone, including yourself, as a person in process rather than as a machine that performs?
- Showed in your words and actions that you valued relationships more than time?
- Listened long enough to understand what another person was thinking and feeling?
- Gave up harsh and condemning words and learned to speak softly?
- Focused on finding solutions to problems rather than finding someone to blame?
Article written by Dr. Gary Chapman. Based on the book, Love As a Way of Life by Gary Chapman. Published by Waterbrook Publishing. For a complete listing of Dr. Chapman's books and resources, click here.
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