Bearing With The Faults of Others

[Fidelis]

BEARING WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS

UNTIL God ordains otherwise, a man ought to bear patiently whatever he cannot correct in himself and in others. Consider it better thus – perhaps to try your patience and to test you, for without such patience and trial your merits are of little account. Nevertheless, under such difficulties you should pray that God will consent to help you bear them calmly.

If, after being admonished once or twice, a person does not amend, do not argue with him but commit the whole matter to God that His will and honor may be furthered in all His servants, for God knows well how to turn evil to good. Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure.

If you cannot make yourself what you would wish to be, how can you bend others to your will? We want them to be perfect, yet we do not correct our own faults. We wish them to be severely corrected, yet we will not correct ourselves. Their great liberty displeases us, yet we would not be denied what we ask. We would have them bound by laws, yet we will allow ourselves to be restrained in nothing. Hence, it is clear how seldom we think of others as we do of ourselves.

If all were perfect, what should we have to suffer from others for God’s sake? But God has so ordained, that we may learn to bear with one another’s burdens, for there is no man without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor wise enough. Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man’s virtue is best revealed in time of adversity – adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.

(Thomas a’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)

leaderu.com/cyber/books/imitation/imitation.html

 

[HelpingHands]

Thanks you for posting this excellent quote!

 

[springbreeze]

Dear friends

I know people who I am sure exist as a trial to others…

Truth is is that we are all trials to each other, simply we are all sinners and therefore should bear with kindness and love all things because what we find ok about ourselves will drive another round the bend.

All is blessing, this is simply the life of any community, it’s hard to live with each other, but live with each other we must and so to live with each other we exercise love and in exercising love, we suffer and in suffering we are united with each other and with Christ Jesus, with Love.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa

 

[savone]

The burden I ask others to carry is one that I avoid carrying myself?

 

[Fidelis]

savone:

The burden I ask others to carry is one that I avoid carrying myself?

Not avoid, hopefully, for that would be uncharitable. Rather, others put up with those faults of ours that we try, but are not completely successful, to overcome.

 

[ncjohn]

For those of you who find this meaningful, the Book Club is reading/commenting on The Imitation of Christ. Come visit and share your thoughts!

Joining is explained in a Sticky at the top. All you need is:

A letter of recommendation from your bishop
Proof that you have memorized the first 3 chapters of Revelation
A $50 check to be written to my account…

Just kidding of course. It’s as simple as making a request in your profile section and answering why you’d like to join.

Peace,

 

[savone]

Fidelis:

Not avoid, hopefully, for that would be uncharitable. Rather, others put up with those faults of ours that we try, but are not completely successful, to overcome.

Yes, others can endure my burdens with me. And, one of them might be not willing to carry a burden that I would have others carry. This would be, assuredly, uncharitable on my part. How many times has the statement been spoken, “If only ‘they’ would do so and so”? Yet, if asked, one would have to acknowledge that he is doing nothing about “so and so.”