Wisdom Commons  Forbearance or self-control is the ability to exercise restraint, to stay in balance. It is disciplining yourself to be measured and temperate in your response to trying circumstances. It is being patent and even keeled while enduring hardships. It is having the ability to constrain your own worst impulses and allowing thoughtful, wiser aspects of yourself to govern what you say and do.

Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. Forbearance protects us against doing harm on impulse in the throes of anger or fear. Since so much of virtue is about finding a balance point between two kinds of excess, forbearance helps to keep us close to the center of our better selves.

In every person’s life, there are moments of struggles and battles that one has to go through.  It is during these battles where we discover something more about ourselves.  It is during these struggles where we either just give up to our weaknesses, or become stronger people, thinking, discerning and discovering the right thing to do.
 
Life was never meant to be rosy all throughout.  We weren’t born on a bed of roses.  We are human beings, and everyone goes through trials and pain.  Even those who are at the top, the rich, the successful, I’m certain they all probably had their own share of pain and suffering.  Maybe not quite like ours, not similar, nor near close enough…. but they had their own moments too.   I strongly believe that God only gives us trials He knows we can handle.  It’s a matter of paying close attention to His message to us in times of trouble, in times of heartache.  He has His way of reaching out to us and guiding us as we struggle to overcome our battles in life.
 
I personally, go through series of struggles every now and then.  It has never been easy for me.  I always find myself battling with my own human emotions and almost all the time end up weak and exasperated.    I would actually have to dictate to myself,  to remind myself that God has never let me down before.  I make myself go back, remember all the wonderful blessings that come my way day after day, knowing in my heart that God has been there for me every step of the way.  It is tough!   I am only human.  I always forget.  I easily forget, most especially when those trials are right before my face, my mind seems to be totally blocked.  I have to tell myself to STOP.  Stop, think, remember….AND PRAY.

God is truly a wonderful God.  He reaches out, comforts, consoles and calms the heart in His very own special way.  When you call upon Him, trust Him.  He is there, He is listening. You just have to pay attention.  If you pay attention, the answers come upon you… even in the most unexpected way… and the wonderful feeling it gives to know that He’s just right next to you helping you get through your trials and struggles all the way!

Let me share to you God’s message to me today… can you believe this message came thru twitter?  From someone I’ve never met, never tweeted to, someone who probably just felt like tweeting a wonderful message to the world. Amazing… and wonderful!  Thank You my Lord!  I hear You and I trust in You!

Psalm 91

 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."
 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.
 4 He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
 5  You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,
 6  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.
 7  A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.
 8  You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.
 9  If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-
 10 then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.
 11 For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;
 12 they will lift you up in their hands,
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.
 16 With long life will I satisfy him
       and show him my salvation."

by Elbert Kim Hubbard

If you work for a man,
in heaven’s name,
work for him, 
speak well of him,
and stand by the institution
that he represents.

Remember,
an ounce of loyalty
is worth a pound of cleverness.

And probably,
you’ll never know why.