Dressed for the Day

Paul uses the image of clothing. Before we leave the house we choose what to put on, and he says we should also choose compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Then he adds two practical instructions: bear with one another, and forgive as the Lord forgave you. Over all these, like a coat on top, goes love, which holds everything together. What stands out is that these are things we put on deliberately, not moods we wait to feel. Some mornings kindness will be work. That is fine; we dress anyway. Today, name the person or situation where you will most need patience, perhaps a family member or a difficult coworker. Before you meet them, pause and quietly put on one quality from the list. Then look for a chance to actually practice it once, even in a small way.