Patience: At Christmas?

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I remember one Christmas, as a child, I snooped for gifts. Under my mom and dad’s bed I spied a toy ironing board and iron and a few other items that looked like they might be for me. That was the year that I figured out that Santa left the presents early and in my parent’s charge J. My lack of patience in waiting for Christmas morning brought some disappointment. I wondered if Santa even existed. I think I was about five or six years old. 

Had I waited until Christmas morning to unwrap my treasures, I could have avoided my doubt and enjoyed the morning through a child’s eyes one more time.

Sometimes as an adult, I forget the lesson I learned so long ago. I still resist waiting. In some translations of the Bible, the fruit of the Spirit lists forbearance as patience. Webster defines forbearing as holding back with effort. Patience requires acknowledgement and effort. Sometimes I'm not as patient as I need to be. Yet I know from experience when I do produce patience, God blesses me. I continue to work on this part of the fruit of the Spirit, and I thank God that he is patient with me.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.