Thoughts of Grace

I love the bare branches of trees.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more:
but judge this rather,
that no man put a stumbling-block,
or an occasion to fall,
in his brother’s way.
Romans 14:13.

A vexation arises,
and our expressions of impatience
hinder others from taking it patiently.
Disappointment,
ailment,
or even weather depresses us;
and our look or tone of depression
hinders others from maintaining
a cheerful and thankful spirit.
We say an unkind thing,
and another is hindered in learning
the holy lesson of charity that thinketh no evil.
We say a provoking thing,
and our sister or brother is hindered
in that day’s effort to be meek.
How sadly, too, we may hinder without word or act!
For wrong feeling is more infectious than wrong doing;
especially the various phases of ill temper,
–gloominess,
touchiness,
discontent,
irritability,
–do we not know how catching these are?
F. R. HAVERGAL.

Them that were entering in,
ye hindered.
Luke 11:52.