The young are seldom forbearing, because they understand so little the frailties of poor human nature. Oh! If you could only witness the terrible struggles passing in the heart of that friend whose vivacity annoys you, whose fickleness provokes you, whose faults sometimes even make you blush... Oh! If you saw the tears that are shed in secret; the vexation felt against self (perhaps on your account), you would indeed pity them. Love them! Have grace towards them, and pray for them in their shortcomings!

Forbearance is even more than forgiveness; it is having grace, putting always the best construction upon everything; above all, never showing that one proceeding has wounded us, speaking of any one who has vexed us thus:-- "She did not think, else she would have acted differently: she never meant to pain me, she loves me too much. Perhaps she yet suffers at the thought of having displeased me." For a wounded heart, no balm is so efficacious as grace and forbearance.

To forbear, is to forget every night the little vexations of the past day; to say every morning: "Today, with the Lord's help, I shall be braver and calmer than yesterday." Forbearance even sometimes leads us to detect in ourselves a little want of good nature, condescension, and charity. To forbear, is not only freely to forgive, but to meet half way, with extended hand, those who ask for pardon.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3