Silent Strength

I've been reading Colossians lately, and it's amazing. I've realized
that silent strength is an amazing gift to have, and one that I need.
To give anonymously, and not just money or material goods, but prayer, compassion, love...
It's so hard to give and get nothing in return that is immediate or
materialistic...unfortunately. We are people of impatience and we need
affirmation when we do good things. Affirmation that we are good, that
we deserve to be praised, and that we have somehow made someone or something
else better. That is great, but I feel like God is calling us to a very
humble silent strength. In Colossians 3 God speaks about putting on 'tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another'...and a lot of times you do these things unnoticed, which is good for us. It's good for us to do things where we don't receive immediate praise, but that we seek those things that are above, and not on things on this earth. When we forgive, we do this often just within ourselves,
and not make a big to do about how you forgave one that did you wrong. How many
times have we done our God wrong?? He forgives, loves, and waits patiently for us to
return to Him.

"But above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." Colossians 3:14-15