“You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other. We condemn others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own failings, we see such a swamp that nothing in another can equal it. That is why we turn away, and make much of the faults of others. Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent, refrain from judgment. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.” —St Seraphim of Sarov
photo taken in Belfast, Maine
2 comments:
Oh how I agree with this....BUT...what do you do if you are harsh with someone, and apologize, but still feel bad??? Prayer is the only answer, and ask God to create good out of stupidity! Please tell me what you think? ♥♥♥
Hi Cathy, yikes, thats a good question. When I find myself being
harsh it usually means that I have gotten overextended and thus not walking in that gentle place with the Lord. I usually try to pay attention to that and work on getting that part back in order. Human nature being what it is when I speak harshly to someone two things start to happen: they will
obviously get defensive and then rather than look to see how they might have provoked me, will look at me and try to focus on my faults! The best thing to do, i think, is to then start to focus on my own walk with the Lord and try to get things in my own life in order so that grace can flow even after the "event". Then they might not be blocked from receiving what they need to from the situation. To use these moments to learn to walk in humility is part of the journey, then be on the lookout to see how you can bless the other person to let them know you are not holding bad feelings toward them.
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