Monday, October 10
Presbytery Conferences. Grito de Yara
NOW I GET IT
JAMES 5:15-20
Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:20
As a
boy I was taught among other things the importance of a good deed. These
consisted in performing acts of generosity, such as picking up papers strewn in
the street, caring for plants and animals, helping the elderly to cross the
street, giving thanks and asking for good things, among other things. I liked
this very much. While I was walking along the streets in my town I saw a dog that
was lying down and couldn’t move. It was injured; it had been run over and both
of its legs were broken. I saw a great
opportunity to do a good deed and decided to rescue the little dog and to take
him to the veterinarian. I was doing it
with much love, but the little animal clamped his teeth down on my hands. I was immediately taken to the hospital and
was given an injection for rabies, but the vaccination did not take away the
rabies produced by the bite.
For
a long time, I couldn’t understand why the dog had bitten me if all I wanted to
do was to save it, to help it. This was the first disappointment I suffered on
account of trying to do a good deed. Unfortunately it was not the last. Many
years went by before I understood that it was not the dog that had bitten me,
but rather his injury. When someone is
angry, resentful or is not at peace, he bites, but he doesn’t sink his teeth in
us. This is how I was much better able to help people; when they had some upset
and yelled at me, offended me or wounded me, I began to understand that they
had done it only because they were injured in their souls. I then learned not
to become defensive with them or to criticize them, but rather to draw closer
to them and to help them.
Prayer:
Today I pray, Lord, especially for those who are living
with resentment, bitterness, and without peace. Help me to reach out to them,
approach them and above all, to help them. Amen.
Translation by Elisa Menocal
Convenciones
Presbiterales. Grito de Yara
AHORA LO ENTIENDO
SANTIAGO 5: 15-20
Sepa que el que haga volver al pecador
del error de su camino,
salvará de muerte un alma y cubrirá
multitud de pecados
Santiago5:20
Siendo niño me enseñaron entre otras cosas la importancia de la buena
acción, que consistía en realizar actos generosos, como recoger papeles tirados
en la calle, cuidar las plantas y los animales, ayudar a los ancianos a cruzar
la calle, dar las gracias y pedir las cosas de favor, entre otras. Esto me
gustaba mucho. Un día caminando por las calles de mi pueblo vi un perrito
tirado sin poder moverse. Estaba herido, había sido atropellado y tenía dos
paticas rotas. Allí vi una gran oportunidad de hacer una buena acción y me
dispuse a rescatar al perrito para llevarlo al veterinario. Lo estaba haciendo
con mucho amor, pero el animalito me clavó los dientes en las manos.
Inmediatamente me llevaron al hospital y me inyectaron contra la rabia, aunque
la rabia por la mordida no se me quitó con la vacuna.
Durante mucho tiempo no entendí por qué el perro me había mordido si yo
solo quería salvarlo, ayudarlo. Esta fue la primera decepción que sufrí al
tratar de hacer el bien. Desgraciadamente no fue la única. Pasaron muchos años
hasta que vi que el perro no me mordió, sino que fue su herida. Cuando alguien
está bravo, resentido o no tiene paz,
muerde, pero no hunde sus dientes. Así comprendí mucho mejor a las personas;
cuando estas tenían algún malestar y me gritaban, me ofendían o me hacían daño,
comencé a pensar que no lo hacían porque sí, sino por que estaban heridos del
alma. Aprendí entonces a no ponerme a la defensiva con ellos o a criticarlos,
sino más bien a acercarme a ellos y ayudarlos.
Oración: Hoy te pido, Señor, especialmente por
esas personas que viven la vida resentidos, amargados, y sin paz. Permíteme
llegar hasta ellos, acercarme y sobre todo ayudarlos. Amén.
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