FORBEARANCE

Forbearance

FORBEARANCE, noun

1. The act of avoiding, shunning or omitting; either the cessation or intermission of an act commenced, or a withholding from beginning an act. Liberty is the power of doing or forbearing an action, according as the doing or forbearance has a preference in the mind. The forbearanceof sin is followed with satisfaction of mind.

2. Command of temper; restraint of passions.

3. The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us; lenity; delay of resentment or punishment.

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance and long suffering? Romans 2:4.

Ephesians 4:2

2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

O the marvel! the forbearance! the immeasurable meekness! The Untouched is felt; the Master is held by a servant, And He reveals His wounds to one of His inner circle. Seeing these wounds, the whole Creation was shaken at the time. Thomas, when he was considered worthy of such gifts, Lifted up a prayer to the One Who deemed him worthy, Saying, "Bear my rashness with patience, Have pity on my unworthiness and lighten the burden Of my lack of faith, so that I may sing and cry, `Thou art our Lord and God.' St Romanos the Melodist - V. 1, On Doubting Thomas

IT IS IN LENGTH OF PATIENCE, ENDURANCE AND FORBEARANCE THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT IS GOOD IN MANKIND IS SHOWN