Being and Doing – 23 February – Gentleness

THINK kindly of the erring!

         Ye know not of the power

With which the dark temptation came

         In some unguarded hour;

Ye may not know how earnestly

         They struggled, or how well,

Until the hour of weakness came,

         And sadly then they fell.

Think kindly of the erring! 

         Oh! do not thou forget 

However darkly stained by sin,

         He is thy brother yet.

Heir of the selfsame heritage, 

         Child of the selfsame God, 

He has but stumbled in the path, 

         Thou hast in weakness trod.

Speak gently to the erring!

         For is it not enough

That happiness and peace are gone

         Without the censure rough.

It sure must be a weary lot 

         The sin crushed soul to bear,

And they who have a happier lot 

         Their chiding well may spare.

Speak gently to the erring!

         And thou may’st lead them back, 

With holy words and tones of love 

         From misery’s thorny track.

Forget not thou hast often sinned, to aro

         And sinning yet may be.

Deal gently with the erring one,

         As He has dealt with thee.

BATES.

oooOOOooo

These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.