MONDAY, JUNE 22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: PATIENCE
Professional baseball has been played in America since 1875, but on September 14, 1990, something happened that has never happened before or since. Late in his career, Ken Griffey, Sr., who had been a key member of the World Series champion Cincinnati Reds years before, was signed by the Seattle Mariners. His son Ken Griffey, Jr. was just starting his major league career. In the first inning of a game against the Angels, Griffey, Sr. hit a home run to left center field. His son followed him to the plate and hit another home run to almost exactly the same spot. It was the only time a father and son had hit back-to-back home runs in baseball history. Ken Griffey, Jr. said later that his father greeted him at the plate by saying, “That’s how you do it, son!”
Baseball players know that it takes patience at the plate to be a good hitter. You have to wait on a good pitch, and you can’t chase the bad ones. Patience paid off in more than one way for the Griffeys that day. Patience paid off in baseball, but it also paid off in their relationship. For a father and son to have a good relationship it takes patience. For any of us to have good relationships it requires patience.
The word patience literally means long tempered versus short tempered. It describes a state of emotional calm or quietness in the face of provocation, misfortune or unfavorable circumstances. Galatians teaches that a result of having the Spirit of God living inside you is the ability to remain patient in life.
Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day and reflected on some of the joys of fatherhood. We also discussed reasons why we need patience as a father and in all our relationships. This week we will reflect on some of those reasons. In the meantime, pray about any relationships that you currently have that require an extra dose of patience. Ask God to give you what you need.
