“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy..”
-Colossians 1:11
3rd Day After Christmas
December 28, 2021
The Long-Awaited King and 2021 Impatience
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free…
Born thy people to deliver… (Lyrics: Charles Wesley)
True confession: I am a late bloomer regarding patient endurance. Praise God for my peers who bear it all with a smile and pleasant countenance. Alas, life has created enough instances where “adulting” was my only option. Banging my head against the wall and gnashing my teeth did not resolve anything.
In fact, I felt guilty because my reaction disregarded my proclaimed faith and resembled a futile tantrum. I have not totally abandoned pouting, but I have recognized the foot-stomping attitude and moved to correct it. Now I attempt to re-focus and juxtapose my “slow to change” situations with unanswered and slowly-answered prayers where pilgrims persevered for many generations.
Prayer
Heavenly Parent, our comfort often rests in you. You know our disposition and our thoughts. You offer wisdom and you rescue us in seasons when we falter. In this Advent season, please infuse us with patience and prepare us to honor Emmanuel. Amen.
Sister Marsha Turner Botts
Love & Peace Unit, SAMS
Advent 2021
Join us in a time of reflection, expectation, and contemplation during the season of Advent 2021.
Each day a new reflection with a scripture and prayer will be posted on the Metropolitan AME Church website and social media to encourage you to hear the words of those reflecting, anticipating, and contemplating with you in community as we thank God for what God has done, notice what God is actively doing and anticipate what God will do next.
Read along with us each day or download the book to read and write along with us offline.