September 28, 2007
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RESTRAINT
By charity, goodness, restraint, and self-control men and woman alike
can store up a well-hidden treasure — a treasure which cannot be given
to others and which robbers cannot steal. A wise person should do good
– that is the treasure which will not leave one.
-”Khuddhaka Patha”I like this quote because it speaks an obvious truth: “You get so much more with sugar than with vinegar.” However, in reading it I noticed for the first time today the words “restraint and self-control.”Learning to “think again,” and not give voice to anger, judgment, unkind defeating words is a huge feat for me. It is almost counter intuitive. In the past I took solace in that not being me most of the time, i.e., it was an aberration in who I AM.
But, lately I am learning the joy of seeing more in others than they show and in holding my tongue. I am not sure when I learned or decided anything I thought warranted unsolicited vocalization. But I am learning words that are not kind can remain unsaid, unwritten, uncommunicated left to nest in the ether of silence until the moment where they could potentially have meaning passes.
There are some days that I am better at this than others. But those days I succeed stand out in lustrous beauty as days in which what I said and did reflected truly who I AM.
Those days are my model. As I practice they are growing in number. As I restrain myself and control what I say my larder of peace explodes in joy.
Try it- rethink your first response in an angry or trying moment- rethink every response until You can see the moment in positive terms. Then embrace that moment just as it is designed to be a chance for you to grow in peace or not. If so, You will feel joy. If not, You will have another chance. Either way You grow.
May Love enfold You
Namaste`
Mara
Comments (1)
Even Jesus let fly when appropriate (Holy version, not just I’m upset version). He was generally only harsh with hypocrites. I don’t know why that group… and sometimes Peter… took a thump from him, when everybody else got off pretty darn easy in my book.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that the Bible says:
Be angry AND SIN NOT.
Don’t think that anger is always wrong. Even our loving God is wrathful and angry for right reasons. He also is merciful and self-restraining in such a way that the wrath or anger is held at bay, or even retracted from a repentant subject.
May God direct, keep and bless you and yours, as you allow,