Thought for the Day – 13 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month
On Complaining
- When anything pains or annoys us, it is a natural impulse to relieve our feelings by telling our griefs to others, partly from a hope of sympathy, partly because it is a great relief to express our vexation or our sorrow. Such complaints are rarely made without sin!
It is scarcely possible to speak of what we have suffered, without some breach of the law of charity.
We must strive to exercise the virtue of patience and stop the rising words in which we are about to pour forth the story of our wrongs. - The effort of keeping silent in such a case soon brings its reward. The pain after a time diminishes, whereas to have expanded upon it, would have made us feel more bitterly than before. Those who know that we have suffered are edified by our silence. Our wrong-doer is often won over by our meekness. Peace comes into our heart.
Do I suppress for Christ’s sake and to imitate His patience, unkind words rising to my lips? When I have done so, do I not find that patience brings its own reward? - Yet, this does not mean that I am always to bury my griefs in my own heart. Sometimes I cannot do so; out they will come in spite of my efforts. Sometimes it is almost a duty to tell our story to some kind and sympathetic friend; half of our troubles disappear or are sensibly diminished in the mere act of telling.
But, we must choose one, whom we can trust and respect. We must be careful not to speak bitterly or to abuse others by way of airing our feelings. We must try to excuse others and must tell our story simply and with all charity.
Do I observe this rule when I am pouring my troubles into the ear of some friend or adviser?
AnaStpaul 