1 Corinthians, Chapter 13

"LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND"

We all have come across people who like to speak their minds, and whether they happen to hurt others or not makes little or no difference to them, their slogan being, 'honesty is the best policy'. This often means that whatever tact they may possess is thinly veiled and we should count ourselves lucky if we manage to escape their honest opinions. Their irritating comments can wear us down. "Yes, it's nice, but you suit blue so much better, I liked your hair the way you used to do it, or perhaps, I never wear cardigans", suggesting that those who wear them are in some way eccentric. Worse still are attacks on our choice of friends. "I don't know what you see in him" or, "She wouldn't be my choice; you deserve better than that"! If sustained, these personal comments can become very hurtful and, whilst we manage to cope as best we can without being too openly retaliating, our injured feelings may build up into an explosive reaction.

The alternative is to forgive as we go along. But how can we be expected to forgive and keep on forgiving? 'Love is patient'. Being patient should not, of course, become confused with being 'soft', instead it should help us to make allowances for those who are consistently hurtful in their ways. Perhaps they are quite unaware of the effect they have on others and it may even be that they pride themselves on being so perfectly honest. Perhaps our task then is to help them to become more aware and to teach them greater sensitivity. Confronting in a gentle but firm manner might enable them to see how their comments really affect others. If we treat their honesty with our more gentle honesty we might be surprised at the results. Paul urges us to, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you" (Ephesians 432). Yes, the Lord has great patience with us and is always ready to forgive the many things we do which sadden Him. So, with His help, we should try to follow his example when it comes to forgiving others.