as yourself." Mark 12:31
What is it to love our neighbor?
It is the loving that is hard.
We could do almost anything else,
short of loving unpleasant neighbors.
But love is the word--
and no revised version changes it.
No matter how disagreeable, unlovely,
unworthy, our neighbors may be--
still the commandment persistently
and relentlessly says to us,
"You shall love him!"
Our neighbors are around us
all the time, needing our love.
Indeed, they touch our lives so
continually, that we must guard
our every look, word, and act--
lest we hurt some sensitive spirit.
all the time, needing our love.
Indeed, they touch our lives so
continually, that we must guard
our every look, word, and act--
lest we hurt some sensitive spirit.
Some people seem to forget
that other people have feelings.
They are constantly saying words
and doing things which give pain.
True love is thoughtful.
We ought to train our hearts
to the most delicate sense of
kindness, that we may never,
even jokingly, give pain to any
other human being.
that other people have feelings.
They are constantly saying words
and doing things which give pain.
True love is thoughtful.
We ought to train our hearts
to the most delicate sense of
kindness, that we may never,
even jokingly, give pain to any
other human being.
Our neighbors have hearts, and
we owe to every one of them--
the beggar we meet on the street,
the degraded wretch we find crawling
in the mire of sin's debasement, the
enemy who flings his insults in our face--
to every one, we owe the love that is
thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.
we owe to every one of them--
the beggar we meet on the street,
the degraded wretch we find crawling
in the mire of sin's debasement, the
enemy who flings his insults in our face--
to every one, we owe the love that is
thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.
Our love ought also to be patient.
Our neighbor will have his faults.
But we are taught to bear with
one another's infirmities.
If we knew the story of men's lives,
the hidden burdens they are often
carrying, the unhealed wounds
in their heart--
we would have most
gentle patience with them.
Life is hard for most people,
certainly hard enough without
our adding to its burdens--
by our criticisms, our jeering
and contempt, and our lack of love.
Our neighbor will have his faults.
But we are taught to bear with
one another's infirmities.
If we knew the story of men's lives,
the hidden burdens they are often
carrying, the unhealed wounds
in their heart--
we would have most
gentle patience with them.
Life is hard for most people,
certainly hard enough without
our adding to its burdens--
by our criticisms, our jeering
and contempt, and our lack of love.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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"The Temptation!"Must reading for parents and unmarried girls.
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