| Garden of the Heart |
Chapter 19 |
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We must see to it that our pleasing of others always ministers to their good in some way, edifies them, adds something to their character, and makes them braver, stronger, truer, and happier. The world is full of discouraged people, and we have power to say a hopeful word or do a kindness which will drive the discouragement from their hearts and nerve them again, with strength for brave, victorious, and songful living.
We must keep in mind, as we go on, that St. Paul is talking about the weak brother. We are quite apt to feel that it is unreasonable to ask us strong people, eager to get on and making long strides, to curb our desires and take short, mincing steps in order that the weak brother can keep up with us. Men, full of life, strenuous, daring, courageous men, say that it is absurd to expect them to restrain themselves and check their energies in waiting for the timid ones, the halting ones. But St. Paul says: “Let us not judge one another any more; but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way.”
The teaching of all this is that we should be willing and ready at all times and in all ways to deny ourselves, to make sacrifices, to give up our own rights, when any other one would be hurt by our going on in our own swift and strenuous way. Christ died for the weak brother with whom we find it so hard to be patient. If Christ died for him, does it need any argument to show that we ought to be willing to give up our rights in little or even in greater matters in order to help him along? One of the most beautiful sights one ever sees is some strong man, wise and great, stooping in patience to help along in life one that is weak, dull, ignorant, slow.
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