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THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT
“For this
reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who
wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the
reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to
him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold,
together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and
payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him,
saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and
forgave him the debt.
But that same
slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who
owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he
said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and
pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he
should pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had
happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and
reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord
summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you
all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have
had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in
anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should
pay his entire debt.
So my heavenly
Father will also do unto every one of you, if you do not forgive
your brother or sister from your heart.”
Forty days in the wilderness waiting for an
answer; 40 years of wandering, waiting, looking for the Promised
Land — unimaginable! I have never been very good at waiting. I
leave early and arrive early, unless someone makes me wait. It
is almost a credo and likely one of my worst traits. My lesson
in waiting began recently after I had surgery on my fractured
right heel.
Waiting for a ride to the emergency room;
waiting for a doctor, an X-ray, a diagnosis, a pain pill. After
surgery, waiting on a nurse to respond, waiting for the machine
to pump more medicine into my vein and waiting on medication to
take its toll on the pain.
During the healing, waiting on my wife,
Mary, to help me out of a bath or bring me food or medication.
Waiting on everything and feeling helpless and not very useful.
Until this experience, patience as a virtue seemed quite
sissy-like. It is not. As I waited helplessly, God offered me
the time to see generosity, care-giving and nurturing in a new
and more appreciative light. I pray for the strength and
patience to continue seeing what God wishes for me when I am
fully healed.
God, you have forgiven my impatience,
and I pray I will be forgiving with my whole heart of anything
or anyone that I am impatient with. Amen
Bruce Brittain
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