Many times when we are approached by someone at times when we are fatigued or preoccupied, we are annoyed and discomforted and say, ‘I have no time for you now, come back later, wait for a while’. But Christ the Lord, even on the cross, did not say such phrases. In spite of His pains, He gave due attention to the thief, and answered his request to gladden his heart. He showed us that even on the cross, we can still serve others.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Father, Forgive Them
Category: LOVE
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He was right in saying that the only certain happiness in life is to live for others. At the time his words seemed to me strange, and I did not understand them; but by degrees this became a conviction with me, without thinking about it. He revealed to me a whole new world of joys in the present, without changing anything in my life, without adding anything except himself to each impression in my mind. All that had surrounded me from childhood without saying anything to me, suddenly came to life.
Family Happiness
Leo Tolstoy -
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
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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 -
An ordinary person is concerned with his own comfort, even if it comes at the expense of others. But a person with values finds true rest when he toils for the sake of making others comfortable.
To him, the meaning of rest is providing comfort to other people, not to himself. He believes rest is that of his conscience, not of his body.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Characteristics of the Spiritual Path -
We refrain from committing sin, because we love God, others, and ourselves.
—H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Develop Your Personality
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She may say, “Until when do I continue giving him my love?” The matter, however, requires that we do not take things personally, and that we understand that his lack of expression of his feelings has something to do with his upbringing and his way of thinking about his ideal self. This understanding liberates the wife from the bonds that he does not love her, and she begins to say, “He loves me but he does not know how to express his feelings. Therefore, I will teach him how to do so, by expressing my feelings and offering him love.” My advice to you is that you should not look at this matter personally, because you will not be able to offer [him] love, except if you look at this as a matter related to his personality, education, and upbringing.
—H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Develop Your Personality
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Once when Abba Macarius was passing through Egypt with some brothers he heard a young woman saying to her mother: “Mama, a rich man loves me and I hate him while a poor man hates me and I love him.” Abba Macarius was amazed on hearing this. The brothers said to him: “Father, what is this saying that you were amazed [at it]?” The elder said to them: “Truly our Lord is rich and he loves us—and we do not want to hear him. Our enemy the devil is poor and hates us—and we love his impurity.”
Give Me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers
SO GOOD QUOTES 