" I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors' defects-not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues."
St. Therese of Lisieux
Talk about looking at the glass half full! What a beautiful quote! A true optimist. I wonder what "bearing" means? Putting up with? Tolerating? Carrying their cross?
I don't know for sure but "bearing" perhaps means accepting the other WITH their "defects" in love and with compassion. Knowing we are not free from our own. Realizing only God can know what is truly in someone's heart and what drives their actions. Being humble enough to know that WE cannot change them, that only God has that power. But by concentrating on their virtues (no matter how small) we open ourselves up in love, to be used as His tools in bringing about that change. That is what it means to me. Summer*
Talk about looking at the glass half full! What a beautiful quote! A true optimist.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what "bearing" means? Putting up with? Tolerating? Carrying their cross?
I don't know for sure but "bearing" perhaps means accepting the other WITH their "defects" in love and with compassion. Knowing we are not free from our own. Realizing only God can know what is truly in someone's heart and what drives their actions. Being humble enough to know that WE cannot change them, that only God has that power. But by concentrating on their virtues (no matter how small) we open ourselves up in love, to be used as His tools in bringing about that change. That is what it means to me.
DeleteSummer*
Sounds accurate to me!
ReplyDelete"Lord, make me a channel of your peace..."
Not my will, but Thine.
Use me.