When Paul describes love, the first attribute he lists is “patience”.
Impatience lies within us. And if you’re a product of the West, impatience is particularly prevalent. If it’s not nipped in the bud, generations will reap the cost of instant gratification.
We’ve also become an instant disappointment. As a result, we’ve become averse to suffering.
To suffer with, requires patience, to slow down. Our instant reaction is to fix: to find a Bible verse, to have the solution.
Compassion requires patience. It requires us to suffer alongside someone.
