April 30

Thou hast borne, and hast patience, and for my sake hast laboured and hast not fainted.

THE hindrances that baffle or overwhelm us, the small annoyances that rob our days of zest and sweetness, the body’s perpetual chafing tyranny, in all these we are facing universal conditions, and bidden to realise a universal being. An infinitesimal fraction of the burden that God bears is on our shoulders—but we are not bearing it alone. This spiritual toil is no degrading punishment laid on us merely for our sins, but the measure of our sonship. Infinite patience seems often to be all that is asked of us. But patience is Godlike—patience is love submitting, and enduring, transmuting poison to sweetness in the life, as surely as enthusiasm is love conquering and striving, and flowing out towards God and man. Nor can we draw distinctions concerning their relative value to God.

MAN KENDALL

PATIENCE