Patience, Love and Forgiveness

   We have been blessed by our Lord with so many things.  So often we forget the source of these blessings and begin to think that we deserve them.  Humility tells us that we don’t; God’s blessings are given not because we earned them but because His patience, love and forgiveness.

   He has been patient with us through our sinfulness and our rebellion from His ways.  God has waited for us to return to Him never giving up on us.  His patience is unending.

   His love is beyond description; it isn’t possible for us to fully understand the depth of His love.  His love sustains us, heals us and strengthens us. This is the love with which Jesus paid for our transgressions, offering us salvation.  There is nothing we can do that would make Him love us more and there is nothing we can do that would make Him love us less.  His is an eternal love that can never change.

   Jesus gave up His glory for a while and became one of us to offer forgiveness for our sins.  He is our source of redemption.  His forgiveness is our way into heaven.  Though we still sin and fall short in our efforts to live for Him and by His will, His forgiveness will always be given when we ask in sincere repentance.

   This Christmas let’s look for ways that we can take the patience, love and forgiveness we have been given and find ways to share them with others.

   Let’s show patience for those who have walked away from us, taking a part of our heart with them.  Through prayer let’s remember them to God and our Blessed Mother and pray for reconciliation.

   Make the effort to share the love God gives with those we may not find easy to love, those who have hurt us or ignored us.  Many have found God through the love of someone willing to share His love with them.

   God has forgiven us for our many failings.  He still forgives us though continue to sin and reject His ways.  He will never withhold His forgiveness when asked for with a sorrowful heart.  Shouldn’t we be willing to share that forgiveness with those who have failed us?  Aren’t we responsible to forgive our brothers seven times seventy times as Jesus told Peter?

   All in all, the best gifts of Christmas may well come down to these three; patience, love and forgiveness.  Without these three, Christmas can never truly be found or understood.  Let’s wrap them up and share them with others as He shares them with us.