Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

(Ephesians 4:2 NIV)

Ask anyone who’s worked retail or food service, and they’ll have stories. Here’s one from Helen, who was at the end of a long shift, running low on energy and even lower on patience.

Helen: “Would you like those nacho crunch burritos to be beef or chicken?”

Customer: “Just whatever it comes with.”

Helen: “Sir, you have two choices. Beef or chicken.”

Customer: “I told you, whatever it comes with!”

Helen: “Beef it is, then.”

Customer: “Actually, can I have chicken instead?”

That’s a perfect picture of how our patience gets tested.  Patience isn’t put to the test when life is easy, when everyone is polite, or when things are going smoothly.  It’s when you’re late to work and someone’s driving 10 under in the left lane, or when your toddler decides to have a meltdown in the grocery store aisle.

That’s when Paul’s words in Ephesians hit home: “Be patient.”  No conditions, no escape clauses.  Just “Be patient.”  

God’s Word reminds us that patience isn’t optional for Christians, because patience is an expression of love.   It’s about remembering that the person in front of you is human, just like you. That customer might have been dealing with a sick parent, a stressful job interview, or just running on three hours of sleep. We don’t know people’s stories.

And honestly, we’ve all had days when we’ve been that difficult person.  Days when we frustrated other people by our words or actions.  How grateful we are when someone responds with kindness instead of snapping back.

That’s the heart of what Paul’s talking about.  Patience is love in action when it’s hardest to love. It’s choosing to see the person behind the frustration and responding with the same grace God shows us daily.

So, whether you’re dealing with customers, coworkers, or family members, remember that patience isn’t about having a calm day — it’s about having a calm heart.  It’s choosing to extend the same grace God has given us.  And sometimes, that grace begins by smiling and saying, “Chicken it is!”

Prayer: Father, thank you for the endless patience you have shown toward me. When I’m tired, frustrated, or tempted to snap, help me reflect your grace to others instead of my irritation. Teach me to be patient.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day