Patience
By Linda and Richard Eyre
Note: Each week this column provides a short
essay on one particular aspect or facet of the Lord’s personality
and character. It is suggested that the reader focus on
this facet while partaking of the sacrament this Sunday.
(Click here to
read full introductory column.) Review previous columns by going
to the What Manner of Man Archives by clicking in the
margin to the right.
Nothing
is more destructive of the peace and the calm previously discussed
than impatience. The clear, light window of tranquility can
be shattered in an instant by the hard, dark stone of impatience.
Peace
is preserved only as patience persists. Christ is the incredibly
supreme example here because no one has ever had more excuse
for impatience, yet no one has ever been more totally free from
it.
Consider
how impatient (in fact impatience is too mild a word)
one would normally become:
- when His finest gifts are rejected by those to
whom they are given;
- when His closest friends misunderstand His most
important words;
- when those who seem loyal prove disloyal;
- when people forget, in a matter of days, miracles
the like of which they have never before seen;
- when He gives all and has little or nothing returned;
- when He is denied by the man He has chosen to lead
His organization
We
have all felt intolerance and impatience when our children,
our friends, or anyone, for that matter, simply cannot understand
or do something that to us is so easy or obvious.
The
Master was above and somehow far beyond impatience. His spirit
and peace were so deep that surface irritations were simply
overpowered and engulfed by His calm.
He
was like the perfect big brother who loves His little sister
so totally that He helps her up each time she stumbles, wipes
her eyes, and encourages her — with the thought of irritation
or impatience never crossing His mind.
Because
of the Master’s complete love, there was always a definite and
clear line between His concerned, anxious desire for people
to understand and any sign of impatience. When Philip missed
a point about Christ’s sameness with the Father, He said, “Have
I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me,
Philip?” (John 14:9), but no doubt it was said with deep concern
and love, not with ridicule or impatience. Even
with the doubting Thomas there was no hint of impatience in
the reply, “Be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27).
To the Lord, humble sinners were to be helped and loved. When
His indignation broke forth, it sprang not from impatience with
those needing help, but as a powerful combat against Satan’s
evil and hypocrisy with He saw as the vulture waiting to destroy
those who had fallen from the nest.
Today, perhaps one of the greatest illustrations of this quality
of the Lord is His patience with our impatience.
Closing Note: Many have asked if it is possible to get all
of the weekly “facets” or aspects of the Savior from this column
in book form. We now have such a book, and we would like to
give it as a gift to you loyal readers who have been with us
for these many weeks. Just send a self addressed, stamped book-sized
envelope (the padded ones are best) to us at 1098 Augusta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108
and we will send you a signed copy. (You will need to put $1.84
in stamps or postage on your return envelope.) Please respond
only if you have been reading and following the column, and
please do not ask for more than one copy of the book. We hope
this gift will help you continue this idea, and that it will
“link” us with as we think about the same facet together each
Sunday. All our best, Richard and Linda Eyre.
