And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  1st Thessalonians 5:14  NIV

He had known his little friend since he was 3.  Now the boy was entering his teenage years.  Their families were friends.  The little guy looked up to his older friend.  But the older one was not always very considerate.  He was a bit too arrogant and selfish.  He loved his little friend, but when other teenagers were around, he didn´t always have patience with the little guy.  One day they were deciding what to do.  The older friend made a decision and a couple other youths chose to go with him.  The little one fell in close to his older buddy.  But the older buddy, couldn´t take the pressure.  He got impatient with being followed around.  He pushed the little guy away from him to gain some personal space.  But as he did, the little guy tripped and fell.  They are both aged men today, but the older will never forget the hurt he saw in his friend´s eyes.  Have we ever acted in an un-Christ-like manner?

We are called to follow Christ.  That is not just a catchy thing to say.  It means that we go out of our way to learn of the nature and love of our Lord.  It means that we try to become like Jesus.  It means that we have the same qualities of love, patience, and compassion.  Shall we pray for patience and that the work of God is effective in our hearts and that we can change too?

Dear Lord,

Draw us so close to You that we learn to care and to be patient with everyone just as You have been with us, we pray!

Amen