You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
-- 2 Timothy 2:1-6 (ESV)
John Chrysostom, Homilies on 2 Timothy:
He does not say 'suffer' only, but 'share in suffering' -- as though it were something to partake of, like a feast. The soldier does not merely endure hardship; he enters into it willingly, knowing the one who called him. So too the Christian: we do not grit our teeth and bear what comes. We take up the cross because we know the One who carried it first.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship:
The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave their homes and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther's, who had to leave the monastery and go back to the world. But it is the same death every time -- death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.
Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians (c. AD 96):
Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of him who formed us. Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and understand how precious it is to his Father, because it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world. Let us review all the generations in turn and learn that from generation to generation the Master has given a place of repentance to those willing to turn to him.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book I, Ch. 25:
Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. We must bear with others patiently, and not be corrected ourselves. You can never have perfect peace unless you submit your heart to be governed. Many seek peace outwardly, but few seek it inwardly. If you do not strive against yourself, you will never gain the victory. He who does not mortify his own will is easily provoked and offended by the least thing that crosses him.
What have you been calling patience that is actually cowardice?
Epictetus, Discourses, II.5:
It is not things that disturb us, but our judgments about things. Difficulties are the things that show what men are. Henceforth, when some difficulty befalls you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a rough young man. For what purpose, you may ask? That you may become an Olympic victor -- and that is not attained without sweat.
St. Clair, MI -- Sunday, July 27: Hot and humid. High near 84°F. Scattered thunderstorms possible this afternoon, 50% chance of rain. Winds WSW 5-10 mph. Partly cloudy overnight, low near 70°F. Severe storms possible Monday evening ahead of a cold front.