We're doing a series on 1 Corinthians 13 at our morning services through the summer, and this morning's preach was to be about love being 'patient and kind'. I got an object lesson in this, when a text arrived at 1038 from GV Girl #1, who has been unwell with tonsillitis asking if I could take her to hospital, followed by a phone call from GV Boy at 1100, saying that his sister was now struggling to breathe. The options were to stay put, do the preach, then go and check her, or to rush off and deal with it immediately. It seemed urgent, so I made my excuses, handed over to the other staff and left with a heavy heart.
There followed a visit to A & E (a bad call as they were very busy), then the GP out-of-hours service (who weren't busy at all). The pharmacy has suppied her with four different drugs, and those combined with honey and lemon lozenges should sort her out. The main bonus was some unexpected or sought quality time with GV Girl #1.
It's been a great reminder that, no matter what age my children are (and they are all grown up now), they need my patience and kindness, even when I ought to be working elsewhere. And a powerful reminder too of God's infinite patience and kindness towards me, awkward, difficult and sinful so-and-so that I am.
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