The Bible says that one of the characteristics of authentic, godly love is patience. The King James’ version of the Bibles translates the word ‘patience’ as ‘long suffering.’ Love knows that beneath the messes in the people that we love, there is a person of incredible worth and value, a child of God. Love is willing to wait and work and believe the best that is within them. Sometimes the
waiting for that beauty to emerge is painful. Sometimes love is long suffering. There was a man who bought a home, and there was only one tree in the yard. He had no idea what kind of tree it was. In the spring the tree grew leaves and blossomed. He thought it was a flower tree. The pink petals were gorgeous, but the spring winds came and blew the gorgeous pink petals all over his yard. He thought, “What a mess I have to clean up.” The summer came, and he noticed that his flower tree was full of little green fruit about the size of a large nut. He picked one and tasted it. It was awful. It was sour and bitter. He thought the tree was worthless. He planned that as soon as he could he would cut it down. Then late in the fall, his little green pieces of fruit turned into crispy red apples. He was glad he had waited and had not cut it down. Sometimes the best fruit ripens late. Love is patient.
-Dr. Tim Thompson
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