If a person does not realize, or did not have good examples, it can be understandable & maybe forgiven. But it’s much worse when you know what it is all about, when you met such examples, and you still remain deaf or “apathetic”.

and – thank you for the Pooh! I did not even imagine how wise he is! I have to get it in the original to read. BTW, my Father many years ago advised me this – to read “for consolation”, but forgot about it…I only know the Russian version (which is too redone & adapted) & the cartoon (I like the Russian “movie” one very much). But now I am ready for reading A.Milne! though I read much of him in your posts:-)

“God is Love” and He is “the Way, *the Truth*, and the Life”. So does that not make Christian Love and Truth one and the same thing–inextricably linked? There can be no Truth where there is no Love and no real Love where there is not the knowledge and judgment of Truth.

And, Natalia,
Thank you so much for this: “But if a person lives with thinking that he owes much, he will start showing love, attention, interest, and – gratitude, even for very little, ordinary things….” I needed to hear this, today.

Love is the highest stage og Christian perfection. It is a Gift, granted by Our God to those who permanently seek Him, faithfully trying to fulfil His Commandments, and purifying souls from sinful thoughts & unkind intentions…But we here, as Christians, are also given a little part of this Gift, a flame of His Love, we all have it, like a small candle in our hearts. We just should take care of it, in order not to allow it to disappear. For this we have a powerful – actions of love, as we have plenty of choices to show love & compassion…and it is reciprocal, as doing something in God’s name, we are merciful to ourselves. We give God a chance to make us better, to change us in such a way that we can reach His Heaven. We often choose earthy pleasures, deceptively consoling ourselves that it is a trifle, we’ll do better – next time. totally omitting that this next time may not come.

I think to begin with we should cease judgment, which is a powerful deed of love itself. To others & to our own soul. I often think that to be able to learn to love in Christ, I should try to justify my neighbors, to cover their discrepancy, their inability or unwillingness to be what I want them to be. I should learn to respect their freedom, as God respects it – He, Who gave it to them, and to me. And I should be patient – first of all! I should learn to be patient & INDULGENT to people. I want them to be the same with me, so why not try to do it myself, to train, to attempt…Our good deeds, if they are done artificially, will not do us much good, if our heart is not melted; if I do not realise not in my mind only, but feel it strongly deep in my heart, that we are free, and we ALL are God’s children. Someone said: “my freedom ends whre freedom of another one begins”. Each one is unique. And precious. Not only to God, but to us as well! another thing is that we don’t notice it. we don’t notice people around us, and are not interested in them. If I were, I’d notice that apart from multiple drawbacks & irritating qualities, they have many dignifying features, and merits, that I, by the way, am deprived of. By myself. And how often we notice these merits, good features, good deeds of people when they die. and say – Oh, what a nice person he/she was! how could I miss all this? why didn’t I say a word of love & consolation to him/her?! We may leave nearby a seemingly ordinary person, may be even irritated by him, but when he leaves us for good…we suddenly become very surprised at noticing that we miss him so much, that he meant so much in our life, and that this our life looks not so empty without him…late repentance. well, better late than never…But time is irretrievable, and this chance to enlight the life of this particular person is missed foe ever, our chance to show love & assistance is gone.

If we are merciful, if we feel sympathy, if our neighbours’ pain finds emotional response in our hearts; if we try to be closer to Christ, we’ll try to understand & love His creations, among whom each of us is.

Pray for me!