Tag: Virtue

Embracing Compassion – Step into the Suffering

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Does embracing compassion come easy to you? Or, do fears, doubts and past hurts get in your way and inhibit you from alleviating the suffering of others?

Embracing compassion: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matt 25:40). Do you need any additional rationale for embracing compassion? When you care for those who suffer, you minister to the Lord, Himself! Jesus states this exhortation slightly differently, yet appeals with the same message in Matt 10:42 where He says, “ And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” Jesus is telling us that we have each been called to be compassionate to our fellow man, in the same manner as Jesus demonstrated compassion during His time on earth.
As humans, we are, by nature, social beings, meant to live in communion with each other. Therefore, we are called by Christ to have…Read more… 

What is Christ-like Compassion?

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

What is Christ-like compassion? How often do we act like the Good Samaritan in our everyday lives? Are we good at expressing pity, but not compassion?

Compassion is defined as the desire to alleviate the suffering of another; to give care and concern. Compassion differs from pity in that compassion requires an act of charity, whereas pity requires only a feeling of sorrow for someone else’s suffering/situation. To have true compassion for someone means that you step into the sphere of suffering, without forming judgment, and you do what you can to alleviate the suffering of someone else. Sounds a little Christ-like, doesn’t it? Read more…

Practicing Gentleness – A Treasured Virtue

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Practicing gentleness requires strength. Sounds contradictory doesn’t it, since most people equate gentleness with weakness?

Practicing gentleness first requires an assessment of one’s own behavior. Truthfulness and self-awareness should be at the heart of this assessment. If you determine that you are routinely aggressive, or overly assertive, than gentleness is needed. Expressions of aggressive behavior are emotionally based, not reason based, where decisions and reactions stem from emotion, not facts.

How many times have you watched the Dr. Phil show and heard him say to someone acting in an aggressive or overly assertive manner, “How’s that been working for you?” He knows that aggressive/overly-assertive behavior does not produce wanted results.

Practicing gentleness requires…Read more…

Gentleness – For Some a Struggle

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

How can embracing gentleness change your life? Why is embracing gentleness so important? Embracing gentleness can only lead to good things in your life. I speak from experience.

Before retiring from the bank auditing profession to go back to school to obtain my Masters in Pastoral Theology, I was an over-achieving technology audit manager who sought excellence in all that I did, and also sought excellence from all those who worked for me and with me. Because of my good track record of job performance, I had been tapped to lead a very special project that would impact the working style and quality of my entire team of approximately 50 people. I took this responsibility very seriously. I had an intense passion for the work, and especially the work ethic. Well, I got the job done, and after it was all over, Read more…

Gentleness – A Christ-like Attribute

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

What does it mean to express gentleness towards others? Is it a sign of weakness, or a sign of strength? You be the judge.

Gentleness is not only a fruit of the Spirit, but it is also the state of possessing a kind, amiable, mild-tempered nature, where one judges conscience by reason rather than by passion. A gentle person prudently forms judgments logically rather than impulsively. To express gentleness, we must articulate our points in a respectful, gentle tone. We must use our reason to assess actions, while at the same time holding our emotions at bay. Read more…

Practice Respect – Do You Do It?

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Practicing Respect – what does that mean to you? Do you offer respect to someone when you see them making a stupid or erroneous decision? Practicing respect gets easier once we acknowledge that everyone has been created in the image and likeness of God, AND once we acknowledge that our neighbor has the right to make his/her own choices, even when we personally would not make the same choice. That’s what free will is all about. If God can respect our own individual free will, and allow each of us to make, what may seem to others to be, stupid or erroneous mistakes, then we must respect the choices of others. Read more…

Veterans and Your Families – Thank You

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Veterans and your families: A huge thank you for your service and sacrifice. Thank you for your fortitude, commitment, leadership, courage, bravery and willingness to serve on our behalf. You are a virtuous group of people. May Our Lord bless you and your families on this day. May we as Americans, never forget the sacrifice you paid to maintain our freedom. May we never take you or our freedom for granted. God bless you! – Virginia Lieto

Respect – A Defining Virtue

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Do you give others and God the respect due, or is respect nothing more than what you care to give? Respect is to have concern for what is noble in every human being. It is a defining virtue regarding the basis for character building. Without respect for God and others, how could other virtuous habits spring forth? Father Romano Guardini more clearly defined the virtue of Respect within his book titled Learning the Virtues That Lead You to God, as something akin to reverence. He states…Read more…

Practice Contentment – Can that be done?

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Would you like to be more content in this life? Is it possible to actually practice contentment? To effectively practice contentment, you first need to take stock of what you find to be of most importance to you. Is it your home, your car, your job, etc., those tangible things of this world? Or is it the love of family and friends, good health, a strong faith, and hope in Christ, the intangible things of this life? Do you count your blessings frequently? If you find that you have work to do in this area (let’s face it, none of us are strong in all of the virtues), then start by counting your blessings.

The second way to practice contentment is… Read More

Embracing True Contentment

Posted: by Virginia Lieto

Are you trying to figure out how to obtain true contentment in this life? Are you looking in the right place for true contentment? Embracing true contentment involves making a conscious disassociation with the dependence on material goods and placing our dependence on God to provide all that we need to get us through this life and into the next life. Read more…