judgment restrained by love

I have been so frustrated lately with a couple people.  My friendships are things that I really cherish, and I think for everyone there just comes a point where you want to go, "ahhhh!"  And I have been wanting to so bad.  I hate that mean e-mails are "the thing" to do now.  That is just not acceptable, and yet so very temping to do.  The older I get the more I realize how essential good communication is with friends.  It is difficult to walk the line between honestly and cruelty.  We all want to get our point across, and why not add a little bite?  Do you know why it's so temping?  I was thinking about it, and then I opened my scriptures and read:

"Verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirrith up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another." 3 Nephi 11:29.

The second I read this I felt at peace, I certainly needed to hear this message today, right at this moment. Now, I am definitely not the person to throw the word "evil" in the serious sense out there, but this is so very true.  So often I am trying to have the attitude: judgment restrained by love, which is part of my sorority's motto.  I need to keep working on it, and am thankful that the scriptures can just make it all so simple for me.

Comments

[heidi]

i love it when i read something in the scriptures that i needed to hear right at that moment, it's humbling

[shan]

very good thoughts - and great scripture to give you your "answer".