How often we forget that words mean something. This seems self-evident, but how much pain, how much confusion, how much anguish our words can carry though it was never our intention for them to do so. To measure one's words is an obligation too often forgotten. And the consequences are all too visible.
And yet, how often, even though we may regret that our words have caused pain, in retrospect we realize that we could not have spoken otherwise. Then we can only pray that our words bear fruit by causing the one they have been directed to to consider deeply and with humility. One does not examine the conscience of another ever, but can only see what is obvious to all from various written works. It can be a painful decision to speak, but a terrible responsibility to keep silence.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is such a real burden to counsel others. The Sisters here advise following these rules: "Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?" Such wisdom!
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