Reflection of the Day

"Let holy charity
my outward vesture be,
and lowliness become my inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart
which takes the humbler part,
and for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing."

Bianc da Siena

translation by Richard Littledale

The second stanza of a song I sung at an Anglican service. The words struck a chord within - "and for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing".

I sin, and by the grace of God, I know what grace is. The more I sin, the more I recognise how sinful I am, the more I experience the wonderful grace of God, the less I can judge people for their sins and shortcomings, the more grace I can dispense to them.

I wish that I can reverse time and never commit many of my numerous sins, and yet I won't be who I am today if not for the painful lessons I'd learned and the grace I'd received through those many mistakes. Indeed, and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose, and yet not that we first loved Him, but He first loved us.

Still, for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing...