Christmas
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another… And over all these put on love… Colossians 3:12-14
Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians rings true today. Most of us could stand to be a little kinder and more patient with one another. Many parishes could take this advice to heart. Most families could too.
What I like best about this passage, though, are the words “put on.” I like the idea that love and generosity are like a cloak or a garment, something that you have to apply to yourself deliberately. It would be nice if these qualities came naturally all the time—if a constant inner peace and calm made it easy to treat others well. But for most of us (for me at least) that’s not the case. For me, love is like a “game face.” It’s something I have to do deliberately. I have to decide to be kind to others, even when they’re irritating me. I have to choose to love my children, my coworkers, my neighbors, even when they don’t seem to love me. I make that choice in prayer. That’s how I get into uniform.
God, help me love others as you want me to today.
Karla Manternach
Originally published December 30, 2007
