People today will have as many problems as the amount of material goods they acquire. They neither thank God for His benefactions, nor notice the grief of their fellow-man that they may provide some kind of charity. They squander what they have and don’t even think of their neighbor who does not even have enough to eat. How can the Grace of God come after such things? The head of a family therefore must manage his things to set aside something in order to give alms. He should say to his wife and children that in such-and-such a place there is a certain sick, homeless person, or some poor family who is in great need. If they don’t have money to give, let them say, “Let’s at least give a Christian book, as we have so many.” In giving to those who have need, they do well both to the needy and to their family. Read more →
Blog Categories
Tags
Antidoron Anxiety Asceticism Boredom Childbearing Children Courtship Devil Divine Services Exercise Family Fasting Feast Days Finding a Spouse Friends Good Thoughts Holy Communion Humility Hypocrisy Infertility Living in the World Marital Relations Marriage Materialism Military Monasticism Orthodox Life Parenting Pets Piety Politeness Prayer Relationships Relics Roman Catholicism Silence Simplicity Spiritual Life Stress Talents Temptations Theotokos Vanity of Life Will of God WorkArchives
- March 2010 (1)
- January 2010 (2)
- December 2009 (7)
- October 2008 (1)
- December 2007 (3)
- November 2007 (3)
- October 2007 (5)
- September 2007 (6)
- August 2007 (4)
- July 2007 (2)
- June 2007 (2)
- March 2007 (2)
The Practice of Virtue Within the Family
— Geronta, how can a husband become practiced in the virtues?
— God will give him opportunities. Many men, however, after asking God to give them opportunities to practice the virtues, grumble when they are faced with a certain difficulty. For example, sometimes the Good God, in His boundless love, and in order to provide practice in humility and patience, will take away his Grace from the wife, and she will begin acting outlandishly and treating the husband inconsiderately. Then the husband should not complain, but rather rejoice and thank God for the opportunity to struggle which He has given him. Or, a mother asks God to grant her patience. Her little child then comes in, and as soon as she has the table set for dinner, he pulls on the table cloth and everything spills on the floor. At such times it’s as if the child is saying to his mother: “Mama, be patient!” Read more →