Forbearance
(Reflection - November 1999)
Sadie!…Sadie!…Come back here!…COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!"
It was like I was calling to a deaf dog. She never acknowledged my voice at all as she took off to chase the neighbor’s dog. Then she headed for the woods to further explore her freedom. As she was blithely vanishing into the underbrush, I felt such anger that if I had the power of instant retribution she would have been zapped right then and there.
She didn’t stay gone very long and when she came back, she said her canine version of "I’m sorry!" She wriggled close to me and put her head on my knee. As I forgave her and stroked her smooth black coat, it occurred to me that I was glad I didn’t have the power to zap her.
It is a good thing that humans don’t have that power or no telling who, or what, could be hit with instant retribution. There might not be anyone left on earth if it was left to the passions of mankind.
I marvel at the love and patience of our heavenly Father. He does have the power of instant retribution, yet He forbears with us as we repeatedly turn a deaf ear to His commands and run heedlessly on our own paths. How wonderful it is that we have the opportunity to say we are sorry, and live to have another chance.
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Psa. 85:15).
Annette Haltom