Meekly Forbearant

Do you ever just get a word stuck in your head?

It seems to just pop in there, from out of nowhere and then won’t leave you alone?

If it has happened to you, then you can empathize with the feeling that it can be quite maddening. Bouncing around the left brain, right brain, tip of tongue… 

Why am I stuck on this word?

When was the last time I even heard that word? 

How could this possibly have anything to do with anything?

Well if you will bear with me for a moment we’ll explore this woman’s descent into the rabbit hole chasing not a white rabbit with a pocket watch, but what at first was an equally perplexing moment . As I began to pursue a word initially perceived as confusing, irrelevant and outdated.

So the rabbit hole I jumped head first into was Google. We’ve all done this just type a word in the answer appears, right? Sometimes though not only is it not what we were looking for but as in this case I found myself asking even more questions.

The word I could not let go of is forbearance…

Hey Google, what does this have to do with me? Mortgage not an issue here, and yet out of the more than nine-million results this is what the first several pages of results highlight?

I was in a contemplative, meditative state when this word forbearance stuck to me like crazy glue and here I go again, there has to be a reason, so let’s refine the question a little.

Ok Google, “forbearance definition’….

Okay better. Now more than 18 million possible responses, but you know what this one I can work with. And yes I see the secondary explanation is the mortgage thing again, but I’m focused on what is front and center.

Hmm… patience… endurance… tolerance… I just used all three of those skills in searching for my answer. There must be something to this forbearance thing and how it relates to our shared path of “Becoming”.

Just making a small adjustment adding a couple of syllables to my request, gave me a much clearer picture of the impact of this word. I could begin to realize it’s relevance, how it directly related to me, my life, our paths of “Becoming”. 

I knew I had heard the word before, though could not remember when, so that led me to the next step in my search, the Scriptures.

So I stumbled into Matthew 9:13 (ESV): “Go and learn what this means, ….”. Well that’s what I thought I was doing. Anyway then I stumbled into, (I never said this would be a straight path), Colossians 3:13

Bearing with, yes bear is part of the word forbearance. It also takes us back to the patience  and tolerance mentioned in the dictionary. Forgiving as we were forgiven. Always a good reminder. Especially when we need to forgive ourselves, so I think we are getting closer.

Then I arrived at Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I think we may have arrived at our revelation.

Forbearance is patient self-control, restraint and tolerance. I need that. 

Wonder if that’s why in quiet contemplation this word adhered to me and would not let go? 

Patience is something I have always struggled with, especially being patient with myself. 

I have to remind myself, I am human. I have faults. I will and do make mistakes and that’s all okay. That’s when I need to practice positive self-talk the most. Because if I don’t I get mad.

I mean really mad. Anger is something I am continually working on releasing. 

By that I no longer mean suppressing it until the anger exceeds mad and becomes pent up frustration which festers into explosive rage. I’ve been there, done that, have the scars to prove it and do not intend to go back there. 

Psychotherapists will tell you anger acts as an emotional alarm for our brains. Any sense of an overwhelming negative feeling like disappointment, fear, guilt, shame or rejection can be a trigger for anger.

While for some anger can be an early warning sign that they’re feeling something that they don’t want to be feeling, for me it has seemingly always proven to be destructive.

It can and has negatively impacted my physical health and mental well-being. While we have been taught to keep it all inside. Hat is not a lasting answer. Sure there are times we need to temper our temper and not escalate situations, especially ones where an outburst can put us in a place of physical danger, but instead we need to embrace it.

Much like our shadow sides, anger exits, We need to acknowledge it, and rather than just try to dismiss it, accept the responsibility for releasing it, overcoming it and returning ourselves to a state of “Becoming”.

From lessons I’ve learned here are some tips for overcoming anger. Much like the steps for becoming more patient, both include mindfulness and controlling your breath. 

Deep Breathing

Probably not the first thing you would think of but when you feel yourself losing control to anger, close your eyes and count to ten. I have found many times it will provide immediate relief. I also encourage myself to breathe more fully throughout the day, both when doing my daily workout and as I perform necessary tasks. I have found not only does it relax me, but has had nenefist to my physical health as well. 

Meditate

Meditation helps us to focus, slow down and develop an attitude of gratitude. Being grateful is an esy prescription for healing ourselves from anger. 

Talk To Someone

Though I recommend not immediately talking to someone who makes you angry, is the current source of your anger or  that person who knows just how to press your buttons. Talk to someone you know can listen, be supportive and can be encouraging. There are reasons why pastoral counseling and therapy exists, because you are not the only one. Others have been and are where you are at, and through conversation we can begin to heal, learn and be “Becoming”.

Releasing anger for me is the first step in contemplating and comprehending this concept of forbearance. I am actively working at shifting into it as an attitude, part of my daily state of being.

Forbearance encompasses many parts of our “Becoming”. 

Patience. Trust. Faith. Humility. Meekness. 

By the way, have you heard meekness is the new bold? 

Too ofen the world uses meek focusing on being submissive and equating that to being weak. However, that couldn’t be further from the Truth. Yes Truth – with a capital “T”. 

In the Scriptures we learn about the strengths of being meek, and the rewards we can be expectant of for our obedience. 

In Matthew 5:5, you can read, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth”.

Taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, this verse is one of the Beatitudes. Simply defined beatitude as an extreme form of happiness. “The noun beatitude refers to a state of great joy. Being blessed, or at least feeling blessed, is often linked to beatitude.”

Beatitude comes to us from the Latin word beatus, defined as being both “happy” and “blessed.” In the Bible, the Beatitudes are a series of eight blessings.” Some sources indicate that in  the late 1950’s writer Jack Kerouac came up with the nickname “The Beat Generation ” because he felt its members, referred to as “Beatniks’ ‘ were individuals seeking beatitude.

Jesus used the term meekness in the Beatitudes, as a description of those who were blessed, not those who were timid, weak or push overs. His use of the word was in line with the term-gentleness, and used as an impetus for trusting God to win the battle instead of taking extremes into our own hands to attempt to win on our own terms. 

The concept of being meek is often described as “strength under control”. 

Having the ability to temper our emotions, remain patient, steadfast in our faith and trust. Now that’s extremely bold behavior given some of the tests we face on a daily basis. 

That’s why I’m willing to declare that Meek is the new Bold.

Bold does not have to be loud, obnoxious or in their face. Bold can be realized, renewed, revitalized as being an active proponent of right. “Becoming” one who is willing to firmly stand their ground, with resolve, empowering the courage of conviction as our strength, supported by faithfulness and trust. 

It is no coincidence, ( since by now you may realize I do not believe there is such a thing as coincidence ), that forbearance is part of the definition of meekness. With emotions in check we can move forward and upward on our shared paths to “Becoming”.. By understanding that patient self-control, restraint and tolerance  all work together to strengthen our renewals, embolden our resolve for all to experience revival in our lives. 

As I mentioned earlier, being bold is not a synonym for being loud or trying to out shout someone else. Having bold convictions is a deep meekness of spirit. Having strong convictions based upon what some might term our softer sides. These include Love, Faith, Belief, Trust, Obedience and Charity.

Being meek, quiet, gentle, patient, long-suffering, forbearing, resigned,reverent, peaceful, peaceable, docile, mild, demure, modest, humble, unassuming, and unpretentious certainly takes courage. It involves having faith in ourselves to live in accord with the Lord. To trust Him and remain relentless in our purpose of always “Becoming”. 

Throughout time the boldest of all have been those who have had the strength to embrace their beliefs. Stand for their convictions with steadfastness, long suffering and patience. Those who have the conviction to be obedient to the attitudes of love, charity and peace. And are willing to not only accept but also be giving of these things at all times. 

Meek does not equal weak. Meekness is the new bold because it is being powerful without taking  aggression. It is a requirement of being able to achieve spiritual success. 

So when is the proper time to embolden your meekness?

How about, right,…. Now!

There is no time like the present. In fact the present moment is the only one we can attempt to influence. The past is done. Tomorrow is not promised. To live a life of “Becoming Today”, your positive actions are required right here, right now. 

I encourage you to resolve to boldly go forth, meek in character and become all you are intended to be.