Patience - charity

Patience is not only a companion of faith but is also a friend to free agency. Inside our impatience there is sometimes an ugly reality: We are plainly irritated and inconvenienced by the need to make allowances for the free agency of others. In our impatience, which is not the same thing as divine discontent, we would override others, even though it is obvious that our individual differences and preferences are so irretrievably enmeshed with each other that the only resolution which preserves free agency is for us to be patient and long-suffering with each other.

And how could we learn about obedience if we were shielded from the consequences of our disobedience? And how could we learn patience under pressure if we did not experience pressure and waiting?

BY ELDER NEAL A. MAXWELL

Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy 

I really had to think through that quote! It is so true, at time we struggle get irritated and inconvenienced because we have to accept others rights to free agency. I love how he stated our impatience is not the same as divine discontent.  

I do believe within family relationship especially that our differences and preferences are irretrievable enmeshed in each others. We cannot separate us as an individual, and in truth we need each other. It is through having to deal with each other, and recognizing that we cannot untangle ourselves that we begin to recognize that we must exercise patience and long-suffering in order to allow others their free agency. 

The more I contemplate, it is not just in our family relationships that we are irretrievably enmeshed. When we are baptized we joined as part of the body of Christ. This makes us irretrievably enmeshed with the preferences and needs of every member of the Church.  In work places, we often work for common goals, causing enmeshing. 

Seeking the gift of Charity - pure love of Christ has  revealed a much more vast expanse of attributes to acquire than I originally anticipated. It truly is a life long process to become like Christ, and develop Charity - the pure love of Christ.