Decide to Give Yourself a Gift

This past week I was with 40 of my closest friends, those who know me best, and STILL like me.  They are my friends from Southeastern Writers Association.  I have been a member since 1983 and on the board for 10 years.

This was my first year back after retiring from the SWA board and I didn't know how I would feel.  But whatever qualms I had vanished as I was greeted with smiles, hugs, and handshakes.  It is wonderful to have those who accept you without any conditions.

This is the way it has been.  You can goof up, commit a faux pas, or any social boo boo and true friends forgive.  They even cheer for you as they did for me when I won several awards at my alma mater of writerdom.

And because I am all about decisions, here is one you should make.  Decide to give yourself a gift.  Someone said, "A friend is a gift you give yourself."  So lavish yourself with gifts of friendship.  It doesn't cost anything, but the gift of a friend is priceless.

Give Me Patience - NOW

I am afraid that most of us pray this way.  We want God to give us what we want, when we want it, and PRONTO.  That's not the way it works.

We wouldn't ask a person that rudely so why don't we use our best manners when it comes to the Creator, the Master of the Universe, and our King Forever?  I don't have the answer but I know that I am guilty and I suspect you are too.

Humility, patience, longsuffering. . . these are not traits that we like to hear about much less practice.  Ah but we must for our Lord practiced all of these and more.   Maybe that's why some of the pious Jews in Jesus' time put scriptures on their bodies to remind them.  Be patience.  Be loving.  Be kind.  Be available.  Be humble.  Be longsuffering.

And in our case. . . Be Christlike.