Inspiration

"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares."

- Henri Nouwen

Two things to remember in life:

1. Take care of your thoughts when you are alone.
2. Take care of your words when you are with people.

A RETIRED Navy admiral, my father began a second career working in a bank. One morning, while he prepared his desk for the day, he was approached by a young officer from the nearby Naval base.

"Sorry, but this department isn't open yet," Dad said.

"But it's nine o'clock!" protested the officer.

My father didn't look at his watch. Instead, he surveyed his customer's uniform.

"Ensign," he snapped, "I'll decide when it's nine o'clock!"

"When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good."

- C. H. Spurgeon