from my devotions:
Matthew 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
He who shows mercy to men receives mercy from God.
. . .extract from Mason’s Self-knowledge, page 248, 1755.
“Athenodorus, the philosopher by reason of his old age,
begged leave to retire from the court of Augustus,
which the emperor granted.
In his compliments of leave, he said,
‘Remember, Caesar, whenever thou art angry,
that thou say or do nothing before
thou hast distinctly repeated to thyself
the twenty-four letters of the alphabet.’
On which Caesar caught him by the hand, and said,
‘I have need of thy presence still:’
and kept him a year longer.
This was excellent advice from a heathen;
but a Christian may prescribe to himself a wiser rule.
When thou art angry,
answer not till thou hast repeated
the fifth petition of our Lord’s prayer –
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors:
and our Lord’s comment upon it –
For if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your heavenly father forgive your trespasses.”
Clarke’s Commentary
I liked the reminder
when I would feel hurt or misunderstood, or _____
and my default is to murmur, complain or take on an attitude.
Stop and give the incident to God’s keeping.
My peace is restored
and compassion can be extended.
God’s way is best.
Thoughts of Grace 
