"The Magic of Ordinary Days" and Forbearance

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
Colossians 3:12-13

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love..."
Ephesians 4:1-2

~ Forbearance ~
The exercise of patience;
long suffering;
indulgence towards those who injure us;
delay of resentment or punishment.
- Webster's 1828 dictionary

There are so many opportunities to show forbearance to others and I often think of the example of forbearance that was portrayed in the Hallmark film:
"The Magic of Ordinary Days".

Set in Colorado during World War II, this is the story of Livy Dunne, a worldly young woman with big dreams of a career as an archeologist. When an unexpected circumstance turns her world upside down, she is banished from her family by her stern minister father, and sent away to an arranged marriage with a shy lonely farmer named Ray Singleton. Livy finds herself living in a remote farm, married to a man she barely knows and initially has little in common with.

She is unhappy with her circumstances but is welcomed with open arms by Ray's sister Martha and her family and the town's people. Ray is patient and forbearing and willing to do anything to make Livy comfortable. But it takes a visit from Livy's sister who offers her an opportunity to return home, and a friendship with two Japanese girls who live in an internment camp for her to begin to see the 'magic' that an ordinary life with Ray has to offer.

So much kindness and forbearance was shown to Livy that it changed her. She didn't always deserve it. But it was still given to her. Slowly she begins to love the country people around her and then starts to deal with the feelings of guilt for what she had done. She uses the lessons she was learning to counsel a friend who is about to make a bad decision.

It is a favorite film of mine, and always reminds me of the importance of forbearance; something that is not always easy to do. Ever since I was little I've always been someone who wanted justice to be done. So sometimes showing forbearance in certain situations or with certain people is hard for me. But I am learning. The Lord certainly provides many opportunities to practice!

~~~~~~~~

Instead of being sad and hurt

By those who are unkind,
How better far it is to choose
The opposite, and find
The way to peace and happiness
Is graciously to do
To others as the Master taught
You'd have them do to you.

True courtesy and gentleness
Reveal an inward grace
That gives a glowing radiance,
Transforms the plainest face.
Be calm, dear heart, and when oppressed
Bless those who do you wrong,
And in forbearance love will prove
There is no force so strong.
-Della Adams Leitner

~Alyssa