Eph. 4:1-3

We are to walk in our vocation as wives/mothers with lowliness, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING, FORBEARING one another in love. Eph. 4:2

I've always loved a definition of meekness from the Vines Expository Dictionary:

"It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us a good, and therefore without disputing or resisting...Meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all."

And the definition of "forbearing" from Strong's includes "... PUT UP WITH, bear with, endure, forbear, suffer."

TO PUT UP WITH! :)

What does that bring to your mind? Living with an imperfect DH and kids is not an easy thing to do, is it? PUTTING UP with them and what they do sometimes isn't easy is it? Yet this is to be how we are to live our VOCATION as wives and
mothers! It says so in Eph. 4:1-3. :)

I am reminded that Col. 3:13 says, "FORBEARING one another, and FORGIVING one another..." The two go hand-in-hand. And for the most part this just means "acceptance". For the same DH and kids do the same irritating things over and over and over, and we must forgive them and love them! :)

Sometimes it's hard to forgive, especially if there is no apology... but I have found this to be helpful. If we can take the "hurt" and go outside and find a place to bury it there with God...and then "forgive in advance", it will be easier to deal with. I remind myself at times that someday in heaven there WILL be an apology, and maybe even before. So if I can just forgive "in advance", it's forgiven and I can go on. :)

And then...remembering that Christ forgives us helps, too...for we certainly keep "flubbing up", and He is so patient. Knowing that we MUST forgive or we won't be forgiven helps us, too, to "lay it all at His feet" and just forgive. :)

I like the Strong's definition of "longsuffering", too...."With long (ENDURING) temper; i.e. leniently, patiently." That says it all, doesn't it? An ENDURING TEMPER.....I guess that means we should come to the place where we just don't get mad or upset anymore about the same irritating things they continue to do. :)

I guess that's when we truly begin to walk in holiness, huh?