Bullying

"Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceable with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord
 Romans 12:17-19

The sermon I heard today at church was titled:  "Repay no one evil for evil."
Bullying was mentioned.  We have heard a lot about bullying in the newspapers and on TV lately. Often the person who is bullied has a handicap that sets them apart from others. One child says unkind things to another.  Sometimes even hitting them or throwing something at them.
There could be may reasons one child bullies another child.  Often the bully has been abused at home and hitting another is his way of retaliating. Real damage can be done; not only to the physical body, but it can cause mental anguish as well.

As a child growing up when someone teased you, it meant they liked you. We are familiar with the boy sitting behind the girl in school and the boy dunked the girl's pigtail in the  inkwell. It was obvious the boy liked the girl and wanted to get to know her better.  It seems we have a need to educate our children to understand these differences, and  to know what to do in a situation where bullying takes place. 

"Let brotherly love continue."  Hebrew 13:1

Patience

We have created for ourselves instant lifestyles, like wireless phones and wireless computers.  If things don't happen right now we get impatience.

Sometimes my computer don't work fast enough and when this happens I tend to give it more instructions, one after another and then if slows down even more.  What I need is a little patience.

Have you ever put new license plates on your car? The screws are too tight to loosen, the hole doesn't line up for the screws.  How about the vehicle registration sticker?  If you get a corner just right, it will peel right off, but  then what to do with the gooey mess left on the windshield.  What I need is a little patience.

I always get in the longest line at the grocery store or the bank, and the wait seems endless.  What I need is a little patience.

The Metroplex population keeps growing and so does the traffic.  A long wait at a traffic light or waiting for a train to pass, or work on the road or a car wreck means I need a little patience.

We get impatience even with God, especially when we are undergoing a trial.  When  God wants to make a giant oak he takes many years.  Yet, we wonder, if He can create something out of nothing in an instant, why doesn't He act?  Maybe, when our patience is being stretched, we are being given an opportunity to expand.  There is a 'right time' to bring us to maturity and a strong faith.  We read in the scriptures:

"We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us, they help us learn to be patient.  And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady,"  Romans 5:3-5 Living Bible