Wise Words

It is so easy to notice the faults of others that we often forget our own faults, and Thomas Kempis, is his little book, My Imitation of Christ, makes a good reflection on how to admonish ourselves not to notice the defects of others.

He tells us to be patient in bearing the faults of others, because we also have many things that others have to put up with, even though we tend to overlook our own faults. He goes on to say that if we can't make our own selves perfect, how can we expect others to be able to perfect, and pleasing to us all the time?

"We would willingly have others perfect and yet we mend not our own defects. We would have others strictly corrected, yet we are not willing to be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeases us, yet we would not want to be denied anything we ask for. Thus it is evident how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance we weigh ourselves."

Wise words.