Jesus said that we should render to the state what properly belongs to the state, and though he had taxes in mind, we might reasonably infer that giving the state the job of punishing wrongdoers is one way of giving the state its due. Lewis B. Smedes belongduegive share on social
When we have been badly injured and clearly wronged, we make an instant caricature of the person who did it to us. We define him totally by the one wrong he did. Lewis B. Smedes badlycaricaturedefine Change image and share on social
What is a disloyal act? A person is disloyal if he treats you as a stranger when, in fact, he belongs to you as a friend or partner. Each of us is bound to some special others by the invisible fibers of loyalty. Lewis B. Smedes actbelongbind share on social
Some people have loved ones they will not forsake, even though they are a pain in the neck. Lewis B. Smedes forsakeloveneck Change image and share on social
The right to personal privacy is precious. Without it, we are all potential victims for a prying secret police. Lewis B. Smedes personalpolicepotential Change image and share on social
Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard. Lewis B. Smedes calldiscernmenthard Change image and share on social
Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future. Lewis B. Smedes bitterchangecreate share on social
It takes one person to forgive, it takes two people to be reunited. Lewis B. Smedes forgivepeopleperson Change image and share on social
The problem with revenge is that it never evens the score. It ties both the injured and the injurer to an escalator of pain. Both are stuck on the escalator as long as parity is demanded, and the escalator never stops. Lewis B. Smedes demandescalatoreven share on social
Common sense suggests that if no one ever judged other people, there would be no real human community. Lewis B. Smedes commoncommunityhuman Change image and share on social
