Patience is a fruit of spirit

While crossing a narrow bridge, two goats came face to face in an opposite manner. One of the goats said to the other one, “Let me pass”. The other goat is stubborn and proudish too like the first goat and said, “Never, you get out of my way”. In this way, they quarreled with each other and lost their balance. As the bridge was way up high and because there weren’t able to control the balance, they fell into the stream down below and died. Remember, the consequence of their fight was death. After few days, another two goats came face to face in a similar manner while crossing the same narrow bridge which was very high from the stream. Both these goats were wise and patient to deal with the issue. Instead of quarrelling as to who can go first, they made way for each other to cross the narrow bridge carefully. The two goats reached their homes safely. The consequence of their wise decision of making way for each other is going home safely. In a race, all the runners run, but only one receives the prize. In the first case, two goats were competing with each other to go home first. They didn’t understand the situation they were in, that both could die because of the quarrel as they were unwise. Neither this goat nor the other one could reach home safely. “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 14:7). The two goats in the second case used their wisdom. They avoided the foolish controversies. They knew that if they quarrel, they would fall into the river. There was no hatred in any of the two goats’ hearts. Patience is a fruit of Spirit. It reveals our faith in God’s love.