Письмо 244

From your letter I see that you are bored by the disorder and disagreement of your sisters; but what to do? Their burden lies on you, and you yourself would not be able to bear it if the right hand of God did not strengthen you. In every sorrowful case, resort to Him, showing your weakness, and asking to destroy the deceit of the enemy, and to encourage them to humility, by which all the snares and networks of the enemy are destroyed; through the multitude of your sorrows and illnesses, and the consolation of the Lord will gladden your soul (Ps. 93:19). Let's look at ourselves, we will find that we are all weak, ill, now in one way or another; and through sorrows these infirmities are corrected and healed, or they do not occur in the worst way, therefore it is impossible not to have sorrows; take away sorrow and you cannot be saved. Our Savior Himself, through the cross and suffering, opened the doors of heaven to us, and left us an image, so that we might follow His footsteps (1 Pet. 2:21) and the holy Apostles teach that through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). So, in our sorrows, let us try to be complacent, then the heavy will be a light burden; but with cowardice, even things that are not entirely serious can be difficult. This is my situation: they ask, do it, then sorrow comes out; and refuse, also cannot be avoided. Recently it happened that I refused to let one of you live with you and was not left without sorrow: what do I do to everyone, but I only refused her one; but I still expect this in the future. Mnogohreshny I.M. December 29, 1845. You might be interested in: