SO GOOD QUOTES

Author: SO GOOD QUOTES

  • The gentle person is always cheerful, and never frowns at anyone.

    His smile is sweet and loved by everyone, and his features are nice giving comfort to whoever looks at him. In his calmness he cannot rebuke or blame, nor can he act with excitedness or harshness, nor can he change the tone of his voice when rebuking someone.

    Even if mistreated, the gentle will not grumble, get bored, or complain.

    He often finds excuses for others, justifies their conduct, and thinks no evil. He never speaks about the offences against him, as if nothing has happened. He does not even feel sad within, and if he is provoked his anger will soon clear away and not turn into malice.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Good relations can easily be established with the gentle person. Anybody can be on good terms with him.

    He does not get excited nor offended in agreements. Whoever argues with him feels at ease, even though different in opinion with him, being sure he will not get angry or count faults for him.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle is usually bashful; he cannot look at anyone fully in the face.

    He does not examine one’s features to know his inner feelings or the truth of his words. If he is fought with this, he will say to himself: It is not my business. Let me mind my own business! He is by nature gentle, and is not inclined to examine others’ actions.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle does not set himself as an observer over others.

    He does not set himself as judge, nor interferes with the others. He does not give himself the power to observe them and to judge their actions. He never condemns anyone. If he is compelled to judge, his judgment will not be cruel.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle has no violence nor wrath in his temper.

    He is calm and is not agitated or stirred. He does not get angry at all, nor is he ever aroused or overcome by nervousness. His nerves are always calm, and his features are always good natured and cheerful. He avenges not himself, nor solves his problems with violence. If anyone offends him, he faces it with longsuffering and patience.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle is a good-natured and peaceful person. He is always quiet.

    His character is calm, and also his nerves, his words, his countenance, and his movements are calm. Not only his outer appearance, but also his inner self is calm. His heart and his emotions are calm. He is calm in his dealings with the others.

    …

    The voice of the gentle is always gentle.

    His voice is never high nor sharp. His words are neither severe nor hard. The still and low voice is a characteristic of the gentle.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A believer trusts that his own prayer has reached God, and that God has heard it and will respond. He is sure that God will act. That is why some of David’s psalms start with request and concludes with response. For instance he concludes Psalm (6) with the words: “Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication..” (Ps 6: 8)

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A kind heart does not rebuke much, and even if he rebukes, it will not be with hurting words.

    See how the Lord treated His disciple Peter who denied Him thrice, cursing and swearing, saying, “I do not know the Man.” (Mt 26: 69-74)! When the Lord met him after the resurrection, He did not remind him that he denied Him thrice with oaths and cursing, but to blame him, the Lord only said to him thrice, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A person who has no longsuffering falls in anxiety, annoyance and disturbance. He becomes worried and loses his inner peace.

    Such a person will be always anxious, looking at his watch every minute and every moment. He may also be rash and do himself much harm. Such an impatient person may in his rashness take decisions or actions haphazardly, like one who thinks God has not responded to his prayers and so swears never to enter the church, as if protesting against God!

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • In order to have peace and confidence, one can remind himself of God’s protecting power.

    Trust that God exists, and that He works for you. Trust that every problem has a solution, and God has many solutions; for what is impossible with people is possible with God. Even more, all things are possible to him who believes (Mk 9: 23).

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit