You write: "I notice that some of the sisters treat me unkindly, and at this I become disturbed." Many "unskilled" souls, those not "made perfect in the love of Christ" (cf 1 John 4:18) suffer from this infirmity.... As fire sometimes kindles into a mighty blaze from a little spark which was not extinguished in time, so also from a small spark of distrust and unkindness a whole flame of enmity breaks out, devouring many years of labor in virtue. If in fact a sister, through her weakness, shows you negligible kindness, then before blaming her for this look in your own heart, examine your own attitude toward her. Perhaps an attentive and impartial self-examination will prove to you that you yourself gave cause for this, and therefore are guilty in all. Strive to preserve in your heart absolute peace towards everyone, according to the word of the Apostle: "If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom 12:18). This inner peace of your own soul serves as the best pledge or security that others will have peace and love towards you; and there is nothing higher or more honorable than love, as also the Apostle affirms, calling love "the fulfillment of (all) law" (Rom 13:8) and "the bond of perfectness" (Col 3:14), in the presence of which "the peace of God settles in our hearts" (cf. Philip 4:7).
+Abbess Thaisia, from Letters to a Beginner On Giving One's Life to God, Letter #5 On Mutual Love.
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