Friday With St. Francis de Sales - Inspiration For Wives and Mothers 9/19/14-Bonus Edition

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"Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone."  St. Francis de Sales

We've all come across those who seem to "love to be feared".   Most of the time, we just turn away and ignore their chest thumping.  Sometimes, we want to stand toe-to-toe and let them know what's what; especially when we see injustice. No matter how we decide to react to these persons who cross our path, we should try to remember that behind the bravado is really someone who is fighting a battle from within.

Those who "love to be feared" choose to cling to the inclinations that we've all inherited as the result of the fall in the Garden of Eden.  They've developed a deep distrust of the world and have forgotten that it is God who is in charge. They take on the world with an "It's me or them." attitude.  They forget that God's grace is at work in the world even when all looks bleak.  They wall their hearts off in defense against the wrongs they see around them and forget to leave an open window for God's grace to penetrate.  It is only by cooperating with that grace that we can be transformed and become like the One who loves us.  St. Francis writes in his Introduction to the Devout Life that "Love makes lovers equal."  

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