It takes so little to turn my spiritually seeking thoughts around and zone right in on ego-victory thoughts. I'm reading my Goldsmith this morning, and the subject is thanksgiving...the necessity of setting aside a special time to give thanks for gifts received.
He writes: "Always evaluate your progress in terms of spiritual fruitage." And my elevated thoughts are of peace, love and joy, specifically pooh-poohing money, power and prestige.
Then his next words stop me cold: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith...." WAIT A MINUTE. How did longsuffering get in there? I check the end of his paragraph...that is a direct quote from Galatians 5:22,23. I can see it's no wonder I don't read the Bible. (Less wonder that I need to.)
But just think on that! Longsuffering as a fruit of the Spirit...longsuffering IS a fruit of the Spirit.
I certainly have had my moments into hours of feeling longsuffering. [As a matter of fact, back in the day a favorite lament of mind was, "I ask for so little and I get so much less than I ask for."] Who knew, all the while praying not to be longsuffering, that was the feeling that could lead me free? And for a fact it has taken all these years for me not to spit behind it right now...but I know it to be true from my own experience today. There's my glory.
But there it is. There's our gold, the acknowledged reason, the why for "thank you" as the prayer sufficient for all ways and days and things repellent and/or good to the reasoning mind.
It makes such sense now...just like if we can learn to love hell, we'll be in heaven. If we can learn to be thankful for longsuffering, we'll not live in our fear again. Just by being grateful.
Thank you.
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