As I entered the bank and noted the long line, I thought, "Oh well, I'm
not in a hurry today." Looking ahead, I saw a grey-haired lady entering
the bank from the other side. I could not help but notice that when she
saw me, she picked up her pace considerably to ensure that she would be
ahead of me in the bank line.
As it turned out, for me, the wait
was made more bearable by this woman's antics. Every couple of minutes,
she sighed loudly enough for everyone in the bank to hear. Her level of
angst intensified as she continually shifted from foot to foot, moving
ahead and then backing up in the line's limited space. Then began the
verbal bemoaning of the ridiculous amount of time the transactions were
taking.
Eventually, the lady in line in front of her, who walked
with a cane and was actually leaning on the cane as she waited, offered
to let this woman go ahead of her to the next available teller. I
chuckled to myself. I was not laughing at her. No, I was laughing at
myself. I wondered, "Is this how God sees me?"
Proverbs 16:32
"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one
who takes a city." (NIV 2011)
This verse from Proverbs is quite
astounding to me when I consider how God sees a patient person. In an
era when territory was won through the valour of warriors, it is noted
that patience is a better virtue than securing an entire city!
Patience has long been a virtue which has eluded me. While there are
times when I manage to relax instead of being impatient, I know that
patience is still something on which I must work.
I've heard that
God has a sense of humour. Well, if so, I think that He must have sent
me this woman today to make a point in His humorous way concerning my
lack of patience.
Daniel 4:3 "How great are his signs, how mighty
his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures
from generation to generation." (NIV)
This verse reminds us that,
as children of God, we have an eternity to look forward to in heaven. So
how important can a few minutes of waiting in line at a bank possibly be
in view of the rest of our lives? How significant is our earthly rushing
and tearing around to make up a few measly minutes?
While my
initial reaction to this incident at the bank was mirth, my secondary
reaction was shame. This verse came to mind:
Psalm 73:21-22a: "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish
and ignorant." (NKJV)
How often have I reacted like this impatient
woman? How often have you? How often have we been arrogant and
self-important? And yet, how forgiving and wonderfully patient is God
our Father with His impetuous, impatient children?
May we desire
today to be more like Him!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for all
the ways in which You remind us of our weaknesses. Sometimes, You send
specific Scripture passages, and sometimes, You send events or people to
speak to us. Even in the midst of the mundane activities of earthly
life, like standing in line at a bank, You speak to us. When we become
restless and impatient, remind us that our life on earth is but a moment
in time compared to our eternity with You. Amen.
Orlanda Drebit, Bonshaw, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Thanks to
PresbyCan Daily Devotional
