Ouch! This morning I sat in the backyard for my Quiet Time, a time to read my Bible, pray, listen, and just get out of my own head. Jim built me a beautiful labyrinth and now I have a 10x10 canopy where I have my time with God.

OUCH! Because this mornings words were convicting. Ephesians 4 was talking about “tender humility, quiet patience, gentleness, generous love towards one another”. These are usually not the words that come to mind when I would describe myself. They would describe my husband, a few pastors I know, some friends and mentors… all people I look up to, but it definitely doesn’t describe me. I often easily judge people, having opinions about many things, and trying to make things happen. I know part of that is my trauma, some of it is my personality, some is the gift combination I have and those things make up who I am. BUT that is still no excuse not to live by God’s standards.

So, how do I not deny who I am, and yet live up to God’s standards? How do I focus on things that God calls important in my life?

Would our world be a better place if we would incorporate these things? Tender humility - not thinking of ourselves superior to others but seeing them full of gifts and passions. Quiet patience - being able to walk with someone on the long road of life and not judging their walk. Gentleness - kindness and patience in action. Generous love - being aware that we all have walked different roads and all have been hurt and have hurt others.

Today, I want to be more aware of these traits, more in tune with myself to notice when I become impatient, or judgmental, or greedy. Today, I want to show love, be kind, journey with someone.

As Maya Angelou said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”