Bobo, my friend's mom and I were just done loading up our grocery to the car. I then went to the back of the van to buckle up my baby on his car seat and Bobo went to the front seat. Suddenly, I heard a middle age woman yelled at Bobo from behind. Turned out the lady was the owner of the car parked next to mine and she was accusing Bobo for not being careful while opening the front door that it touched her car. Being a 70 years old who does not speak much English, Bobo didn't answer much except, "No... the car is okay."
The lady then examined her car. Turned out there was no scratch but she kept grumbling. She then backed up her car in lighting speed and left. I asked Bobo what happened later on and she said she was being careful when she opened the door and made sure it didn't touch her car.
When I told Chris what happened he asked, "How come you didn't say anything?" I told him I was too shocked to react. She was a middle age woman shouldn't she know better how to talk to older people? She saw how old Bobo was. Even if she was right and the door did scratch her car her reaction was not okay. What if her children or her boss saw her treating people like that?
That incident got me thinking.... I am not a patient or gentle person myself. It's not in my blood, gene, or personality. Most of the time when I tell people that we are homeschooling, their replied would be, "You must be very patient." Trust me...I am not but I realized that I need to learn how to deal with my raw emotions otherwise I would destroy my name, reputation, or relationship I value the most.
Inspired by 30 Days Husband Encouragement Challenge, I decided to write this Patient & Gentleness Challenge. I still struggle and fail from time to time but I want to be changed and renewed. I want my words to build up others not tearing them down. For the next 52 weeks, I will share what I learned from books or other people on this topic and what God does in my life as I chose patient and and gentleness over anger or rudeness.
Would you join me?
"Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
