June 4

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”  Ephesians 4:2  NLT

Discipline requires patience. If acquired behaviors were easy, they would not require the steady, repetitive duty of learning. Dogs respond to repetition. Famous seems most content when our day is “routine.” He knows he is safe if he stays home while I am away, and his stress is minimized in new environments if I am there with him. It is consistency which gives him the expectation which calms him.

But the owner has to be consistent in his patience. Dogs are very observant, and once they see behaviors which are erratic or cruel, their trust can be lost. But a continuous affirmation of your affection can make them attentive and willing to comply with the discipline of learning.

We will make mistakes in our daily walks because we, unlike Christ, are not made perfect. But if we show patience to one another, then we can encourage each other to learn more about how we can live a life full of faith.

Today, Lord, I ask for patience in my growing and in my being.