Category: Words of Wisdom

Give me an ear and I will give you a voice.- Kahlil Gibran

How often have we found ourselves talking and explaining things only to find out that the person we’re talking to isn’t really listening but trying to figure out what to say in reply?

How many times have we found ourselves doing our very best to win an argument to prove our point only to find out that even after we win, our opponent would merely cling stubbornly to his own point of view?

Why not reserve your explanations for someone who really wants to understand?

Why not reserve your efforts for someone who really wants to listen?

We cannot change someone who doesn’t want to change or make people believe in something they don’t want to believe in.

But we can be ready instruments to those who are ready to discover the truth. We can await God’s timing, and then we can speak where others may start walking in the light.

One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
-Proverbs 9, WEBBE

Don’t judge without having heard both sides. Even persons who think themselves virtuous very easily forget this elementary rule of prudence. – St. Josemaria Escriva

Many times, it’s so easy to spread a rumor, and so difficult to keep our mouths shut so as not to contribute to the ruin of our neighbor’s reputation.

There is something tempting about being the “first to know” or being the one who “knows something” which other people don’t know yet.

There is also the hidden malice of wanting to see the downfall of another so we can lift up ourselves, of being more virtuous and not ending up like the one talked about.

It’s so tempting. Many times, we don’t even recognize we’re doing it! We claim innocence as we say we only heard the news from so and so, or that we can’t believe it ourselves. But the very fact that we have allowed our lips to utter the evil should convince us that we have made ourselves channels of destruction rather than good, of falsehood rather than truth.

How do we keep our hearts pure if we can’t even sanctify our words?

You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. – Exodus 23, WEBBE

CCC 2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.

“You may forget with whom you laughed, but you will never forget with whom you wept.” – Kahlil Gibran

We may find many who will gladly laugh with us, but where can we find those who can share our tears? For laughter is a quick medicine that attracts, but weeping is a burden that none may wish to carry with you. Thus it is said, that when you laugh, the world laughs with you, but when you weep, you weep alone.

Yet even weeping is a treasure, because it is in sorrow that we discover what true love is. Sorrow reveals to us the strength of our friendships. It takes away the masks that have deceived us into believing we are with someone, but in truth, we are really alone.

Let this be our consolation. That such tears take away from us only those who are not real. But they gather with us those who are faithful and true.

We weep in our pain, but we rejoice in the love we have found.

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness…
-Psalm 30, WEBBE