Randy my oldest son’s wedding fast approach, overweight it’s difficult to find a dress that makes me feel beautiful. So I decide to look at patterns, I discover a beautiful dress and jacket pattern, hire a seamstress. I’m torn as I compare myself to others. I try to lose weight before the big day yet the stress of the big day I find solace in the very thing I need to avoid, food. Beloved, what are you turning to or comparing yourself?
Instructions in Colossians 3:12, “to clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” How do we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience? First, without Jesus as your savior, we do not have the empowering of the Holy Spirit. When we have Jesus as our savior we have the Holy Spirit and then we’re filled with the capacity of compassion, kindness, humble, gentle, and yes filled with patience.
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What does clothing yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience look like?
Compassion definition is the response to others suffering with the desire to help. Compassion comes easy for me. Have you helped a homeless person? How about giving presents at Christmas to a family who is less fortunate?
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 103:13 NIV
Kindness starts within and sometimes we are the hardest on ourselves. Kindness definition is being friendly, generous and considerate. In 2 Samuel 2:6,
May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Saul was dead and King David was commending one of the servants for the kindness he has shown to Saul.
Humility is the opposite of pride. Dr. Neil Anderson shares, humility is confidence properly placed. Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” David a shepherd boy with his sling very humble with confidence as he faced Goliath, he swings around his head the sling with the rocks, whirling through the air, the rocks hit him and down the giant falls. Humility combats pride.
A touch all someone needs sometimes, a hug, yet many go through life without any gentleness in their lives. Gentleness described as being kind and careful. Often one sees a scared animal that has suffered at the hands of a human. We owned one such dog she cowered down and despite our kindness and being careful she lived in fear. How can we show gentleness? For me as a case manager, reaching and offering to hold hands says I’m here, I understand you’re pain.
Patience is a virtue according to God’s word. In 2 Peter 1: 5-7, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. I have to say I’m not very good with patience. Yet, we are to clothe ourselves with patience.
Beloved, which of these traits do you struggle with that you need to ask God to help you apply to your life?
My dress for the wedding pink floral with a satin deep pink jack created to clothe me enabled me to feel beautiful. Yes I was still overweight. Of course, the bride’s the show stopper but I’m runner-up because once I quit comparing myself, I realized I am the mother of the groom and I’m loved by Jesus because I’m clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. How much more attractive can I be?
Life Lesson: Jesus loves us so much that we do not need to compare ourselves to others.
Song: And Can It Be?
Father God, Amazing love how can it be that I should gain from your love? I’m a sinner yet while I sinned you died on the cross with all of those sins in mind. I think of that song that says I am on your mind and one of the lines in Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s book Hope Prevails: a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression is that my name is on the palms of your hands. as is my sister who is reading this prayer. We do have hope that prevails Lord because of your son, we have hope in depression, if one is overweight and thinks she cannot do one more diet, or eat one more salad, you are there for her. If someone is helpless, let her reach out and grab on to someone compassion. If someone needs hope, I will lend my hope. Someone will listen. I will listen Lord. Make us good listeners Lord, fill us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. In Jesus name. Amen.
If someone would like Dr. Michelle Bengston’s book and cannot afford. Please contact me at blessingsrockwell@gmail.com
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