Benignidad

Mas el fruto del Espíritu es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fidelidad, mansedumbre, dominio propio; contra tales cosas no hay ley.*

Go ‘head. Give ‘er a try. C’mon, it is not as hard as it looks.

First clue: these are the first verses I memorized in Spanish.

Second clue: it is a famous list; notice all the commas?

Third clue: the seventh word there is ‘amor’, you may be more familiar with the Italian word ‘amore’.

Got it yet?

This is the list of the fruit of the Spirit found in the twenty-second and twenty-third verses of the fifth chapter of Galatians. If you have this list memorized then you will be able to translate the Spanish for the English and find that after patience come gentleness. The Spanish word is: Benignidad [bvay . nee . ghnee . thad]

- o -

We were newbies in Bolivia. After a ladies tea at my house to get to know some of the matriarchs at the church we were attending I pulled Señora Estanfi to the side. She had been a tough nut to crack. Her especially aloof demeanor made it especially difficult to swallow the intimidation and let my tongue fumble through a request I had for her. I pointed to a note pad where I had meticulously transcribed from the bible the verses I wanted to memorize. Then I showed her my mini-recorder. I was finally able to make her understand that I wanted her to read the verses aloud whilst I recorded her voice so that I could practice by listening and repeating the recording.

Her eyes widened behind thick spectacles. Her thick, penciled-in eyebrows made an appearance above the rims. She even allowed a pursed grin to grace the area below her upturned nose. Raising her hand to her chest in a mock symbol of humble disbelief her shoulders knew that this was their cue to square themselves in preparation for proper, prideful presentation. She made a sidelong glace to a few of her friends to be sure that they saw her. Assured that they were watching, she cleared her voice, closed her eyes and agreed to help me.

I handed her the note pad and pushed play and record on my mini-recorder. As I lifted the apparatus closer to her face she was much obliged to relieve me of my tiresome responsibility of holding the machine. Snatching it up she began the reading. I was relieved to know that the play and record button both stayed in their descended positions as she dictated. This was not the last time I was to be made to feel like that constricted and repressed little mini-recorder at the hand of an all knowing elder. That is ok with me. The cost of learning is often a big helping of humble pie.

In this case the pie was a mixed fruit variety. Thanks to that dear woman’s act of sacrificial kindness I was able to memorize my first Spanish verses: the fruit of the Spirit.

- o -

I was reminded of this comical experience that I hold so dear to my heart as the doctor gave me the report from the pathology lab. Benign. She actually said, “Benigno, todo benigno.” That was what I had hoped and prayed for. The possible alternatives lurked in the corners of my mind taunting me. They fled from their crouching position as the light of the pronounced truth burst forth in my heart.

ma·lig·nant \mə-ˈlig-nənt\adjective 1 a obsolete : malcontent, disaffected b: evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious c: passionately and relentlessly malevolent : aggressively malicious2: tending to produce death or deterioration <malignant malaria> ; especially : tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally <a malignant tumor>**

be·nign \bi-ˈnīn\adjective 1: of a gentle disposition : gracious <a benign teacher>2 a: showing kindness and gentleness <benign faces> b: favorable, wholesome <a benign climate>3 a: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life ; especially : not becoming cancerous <a benign lung tumor> b: having no significant effect : harmless <environmentally benign>**

Tears of gratitude came twice. First, at the initial revelation. Second, when my husband told me, “I am so glad you don’t have cancer.” Yes, I am so thankful to the Lord! Personally, I would not describe this whole ordeal as physically, spiritually or mentally gentle. In comparison to what may have been, what many people are fighting against right now, I have come to understand that  it really was a benign experience. The fruit of the Spirit of ‘benignidad’, gentleness, (that, by the grace of God, has been place in my life) has a deeper and more precious meaning to me now.

Thank you, God, that you are gentle. When my opinion is that what you are doing in my life could not be described as gentle, forgive me. Please, let your gentleness grow in me.

* Verses from La Biblia de las Americas
** Definitions from Websters

Tagged as: God thoughts, Loved, missionary