Let us remember that we are not here to convince men, but to let our light shine.
Knowledge is not necessarily light. And it is light, not knowledge, that we have to spread. The best thing we can do — infinitely the best, indeed the only thing — that men may receive the truth, is to be ourselves true. Beyond all doing of good is the being good, for he that is good not only does good things, but all that he does is good.
— George MacDonald, Your Life in Christ, p. 213
Maybe we have to sin, to know ourselves human, faulty, and flawed, before there is any possibility of greatness.
— Madeleine L’Engle, Certain Women, quoted by Caroline F. Chase in Glimpses of Grace, p. 152
Although claiming my true identity as a child of God, I still live as though the God to whom I am returning demands an explanation. I still think about his love as conditional and about home as a place I am not yet fully sure of. While walking home, I keep entertaining doubts about whether I will be truly welcome when I get there. As I look at my spiritual journey, my long and fatiguing trip home, I see how full it is of guilt about the past and worries about the future. I realize my failures and know that I have lost the dignity of my sonship, but I am not yet able to fully believe that where my failings are great, “grace is always greater.” Still clinging to my sense of worthlessness, I project for myself a place far below that which belongs to the son. Belief in total, absolute forgiveness does not come readily. . . .
One of the greatest challenges of the spiritual life is to receive God’s forgiveness. There is something in us humans that keeps us clinging to our sins and prevents us from letting God erase our past and offer us a completely new beginning. Sometimes it even seems as though I want to prove to God that my darkness is too great to overcome. While God wants to restore me to the full dignity of sonship, I keep insisting that I will settle for being a hired servant. But do I truly want to be restored to the full responsibility of the son? Do I truly want to be so totally forgiven that a completely new way of living becomes possible? Do I trust myself and such a radical reclamation? Do I want to break away from my deep-rooted rebellion against God and surrender myself so absolutely to God’s love that a new person can emerge? Receiving forgiveness requires a total willingness to let God be God and do all the healing, restoring, and renewing. As long as I want to do even part of that myself, I end up with partial solutions, such as becoming a hired servant. As a hired servant, I can still keep my distance, still revolt, reject, strike, run away, or complain about my pay. As the beloved son, I have to claim my full dignity and begin preparing myself to become the father.
— Henri J. M. Nowen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, p. 52-53
As you develop better boundaries, you have less need for anger. This is because in many cases, anger was the only boundary you had. Once you have your no intact, you no longer need the “rage signal.” You can see evil coming your way and prevent it from harming you by your boundaries.
Don’t fear the rage you discover when you first begin your boundary development. It is the protest of earlier parts of your soul. Those parts need to be unveiled, understood, and loved by God and people. And then you need to take responsibility for healing them and developing better boundaries.
This brings us to an important point about anger: The more biblical our boundaries are, the less anger we experience! Individuals with mature boundaries are the least angry people in the world. While those who are just beginning boundary work see their anger increase, this passes as boundaries grow and develop.
Why is this? Remember the “early warning system” function of anger. We feel it when we are violated. If you can prevent boundary violation in the first place, you don’t need the anger. You are more in control of your life and values.
— Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend, Boundaries, p. 114-115
Jesus flaunts his love for you. He waves his hand over you, signalling to all in sight that you are the one he loves.
— Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day by Day, June 11 entry
“How did you know I needed fudge?”
“Everyone needs fudge, Hildy. It’s how God helps us cope.”
— Joan Bauer, Peeled, p. 169
“To know what would have happened, child?” said Aslan. “No. Nobody is ever told that.”
“Oh dear,” said Lucy.
“But anyone can find out what will happen,” said Aslan. “If you go back to the others now, and wake them up; and tell them you have seen me again; and that you must all get up at once and follow me — what will happen? There is only one way of finding out.”
— C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian, p. 142-143
Give up the notion that an argument can be won. People desperately want to win because prevailing and “winning” seem the only way out. When you try to win each battle, nobody ever wins.
— Ellyn Bader, PhD, and Peter T. Pearson, PhD, Tell Me No Lies, p. 140
It’s not what [God] isn’t giving but what he is giving. We can get so locked onto what we don’t have, what we think we want or need, that we miss the gifts God is giving.
— John Eldredge, Walking with God, p. 68
Happy women know that no one gets to be happy all the time.
There’s no getting around it. If you love, you will lose. But that doesn’t mean being sentenced to a life of unhappiness. Be patient, take the time you need, and allow the grief to help you discover new independence and a fresh outlook on things.
There is tremendous wisdom that is accumulated after loss. Healing takes place when we can turn our pain into something meaningful. . . . Take time to do things that will bring renewed meaning to your life.
— Dan Baker, PhD, and Cathy Greenberg, PhD, What Happy Women Know, p. 173