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Quote 325
Gerondissa Makrina (Vassopoulou)
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Quote 325 - Форум
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Quote 325
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| readeralexey | Дата: Пятница, 31.10.2025, 01:21 | Сообщение # 1 |
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| Every person needs to cultivate his inner world, to discipline himself, to become soft like cotton. Amongst ourselves, our word should be spoken like honey, our touch should be soft like cotton.... Saint Nektarios said this! Since everyone wants love, and since we seek to be respected and to be spoken to with love, we should behave likewise towards others.
Gerondissa Makrina (Vassopoulou)
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| davydenkololita | Дата: Суббота, 01.11.2025, 11:51 | Сообщение # 2 |
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| It is a beautiful statement; I imagined cotton balls while reading. It is true that we should seek to be kind to each other, although being kind sometimes does not appear same as being soft or speaking like honey. Kindness is sometimes harsh and love is sometimes strict, especially when we say "no" to others. Such love still continues to be considerate, tender, heartfelt and genuine.
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Сообщение отредактировал davydenkololita - Понедельник, 29.12.2025, 17:53 |
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| mariafokina99 | Дата: Суббота, 01.11.2025, 22:20 | Сообщение # 3 |
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| This statement seems to me like an ideal to strive for, though a very difficult one to achieve. Arrogance, passions, and fears often stand in our way. If people are unkind to themselves, they won`t be able to treat others with love. It's important to value yourself in a healthy way. When we value ourselves, we find the strength to do good sincerely, from the heart. We should remember the words of Gerondissa Makrina and follow it when we can, but not out of guilt. Because even love can be evil. It's hard to be soft like cotton when you have little life experience and don't fully understand yourself or others.
I agree that everyone wants to be loved, and we should love and care for others in return. However, it's crucial not to lose yourself in the process or to act without heart, just pretending. Love is difficult, and it isn't always sweet or soft. It requires patience and the ability to stay silent, which can often be challenging.
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| claudholloway | Дата: Понедельник, 10.11.2025, 23:22 | Сообщение # 4 |
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| Firstly, I love the metaphors about honey and cotton and I think that they illustrate the quote perfectly. I agree with this quote, because love is the central part of the Christian faith. Sadly we forget about it very often. We think that everyone should respect and love us, but we forget to show love and kindness in return. Human nature is very selfish, and sometimes it's very hard for us to humble our arrogance and be kind to others.
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Мария П.
Сообщение отредактировал claudholloway - Вторник, 23.12.2025, 00:12 |
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| runovasveta2005 | Дата: Вторник, 11.11.2025, 11:11 | Сообщение # 5 |
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| I think I see this point and I agree with it. The main thing Christianity teaches is love for our neighbor. It seems to me the simplest thing a common person can do to be saved.
I mean, God is unknowable, His world is unknowable and a lot of His truths are just difficult for human understanding. Because of our imperfection, we don’t see many things, we can’t recognize the true essence of them. Understanding how to live, how to pray, understanding what God is and what the world is – all such things are available only to a few people, only to those who achieved holiness and spiritual perfection (if we can use this word in relation to people). But we, who are far from it, always make mistakes and always lose our way even if we try to find it. And to generalize my words and to bring them to the point, the first of Christ’s commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind", is just not achievable for us in its fullness, because we don't know how to love God, we don't recognize what He is because of imperfection of our mind, nature and soul.
But at least we can recognize what love for our neighbor is and such kind of love is much more comprehensible and closer for us, people. We all understand that "everyone wants love" and "we seek to be respected and to be spoken to with love", and this understanding makes love for our neighbor more comprehensible. And this, in my opinion, is God's great mercy that through this a bit selfish want we can recognize what love is and cultivate our inner world and transform our soul in such way.
So, if we are too spiritually weak and are not able to love God in the proper way, we are still able to love our neighbors and we should put all our efforts into learning how to do it.
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Сообщение отредактировал runovasveta2005 - Вторник, 23.12.2025, 18:37 |
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| busiginaliza00 | Дата: Вторник, 11.11.2025, 23:39 | Сообщение # 6 |
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| Saint Nektarios teaches that spiritual life is an inner garden we must tend. Its most beautiful fruit is a heart that has become soft and gentle like cotton. From such a heart words are no longer weapons but gifts, sweet like honey. I see the profound truth in this, as harsh words have caused pain in my life. Conversely, a single soft word can disarm conflict and bring peace. This idea is not new, but it deepens my understanding of Christian asceticism. Its practical application for me is to pause before I speak. I should ask myself if my words are like honey, offering healing and grace.
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| sophianesterenok | Дата: Понедельник, 24.11.2025, 22:37 | Сообщение # 7 |
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| These words are important to remember. They bring to mind the prophecy about Christ: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out" (Isaiah 42:3, Matthew 12:20). This verse reflects Christ's, and Christian, character: we are not supposed to break people with our speech and touch, but heal them.
I believe that strictness and even harshness may be healing only when the listener is ready to hear it. This inner disposition of the person is hidden from most of us, which is why I believe soft and gentle words to be kinder in most cases. At our weakest moments, we need grace more than ever.
I also appreciate that the quote speaks of "disciplining oneself" to become soft. It takes strength of character to learn softness, at least for me, because I have to lose my defensiveness and be completely vulnerable. However, it is this vulnerability and thinking over my words more carefully that protects me from regretting what I have said later on. As one quote I saw online (attributed to several pastors) said, "Make my words as sweet as honey, because tomorrow I may have to eat them".
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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Сообщение отредактировал sophianesterenok - Понедельник, 24.11.2025, 22:38 |
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| davidkushakov | Дата: Пятница, 19.12.2025, 13:35 | Сообщение # 8 |
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| The quote is clear for me. If we want to be treated with love and respect, we have to build that same kindness inside ourselves first. It's like you can't give what you don't have. You have to become "soft inside" before your words can be sweet like honey to someone else. I totally agree with it. It reminds me of times I snapped at someone because I was stressed or impatient inside. My words weren't "like honey" because my heart wasn't "like cotton." But on days when I take a little time just to breathe and get centered, I find it way easier to be patient and speak kindly, even in frustrating situations. So for me, the practical takeaway is simple but powerful. Before I jump into a conversation, especially a tough one, I try to pause for a second and check in with myself. Am I centered? Am I soft? If not, I might need a minute to settle before I can truly speak with love.
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Сообщение отредактировал davidkushakov - Понедельник, 22.12.2025, 23:50 |
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| graveqid | Дата: Пятница, 19.12.2025, 22:32 | Сообщение # 9 |
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| This statement is a great guide for our Christian life. I like the way Saint Nektarios compares inner world with garden that needs some work to be beautiful and helpful to God and to people. And other two metaphors are great! Because the world is mostly rude and a very unpleasant place to be in, we, as Christians, should be ones who make it better. Honey is sweet and healing - a great metaphor for our words to be like. So to bring the word of God into the world, we need to make ourselves better and stronger, like the trees in a beautiful garden. We must be pleasant and merciful in the dialogue so that people can hear us. Only then our actions will have good results.
Каледа В.Ф.
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Сообщение отредактировал graveqid - Понедельник, 22.12.2025, 12:06 |
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| solkinaanna57 | Дата: Пятница, 19.12.2025, 22:50 | Сообщение # 10 |
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| Gerondissa Makrina, echoing the words of Saint Nektarios, speaks about the need to cultivate one’s inner world and to become "soft like cotton" in relations with others. I find this image very meaningful, because it shifts attention from external behavior to inner discipline. True softness is not weakness, but the result of spiritual effort, self-restraint, and humility. Without inner work, words easily become harsh and actions rough, even when intentions seem good.
This teaching also reminds me that people often demand love, respect, and gentleness, while forgetting to offer the same qualities themselves. If we wish to be treated with kindness, our speech should be like honey and our touch careful and attentive. Such behavior does not arise automatically; it requires vigilance over thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Cultivating the inner world means learning to respond rather than react.
Although the quotation uses the word "he," I understand this teaching as universal. Every person, regardless of gender, is called to acquire inner softness so that love may be expressed not only in words, but in tone, presence, and daily interaction with others.
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| mariablansh | Дата: Пятница, 19.12.2025, 22:54 | Сообщение # 11 |
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| I agree with the above quote. I think, I need to learn to be stricter towards myself and softer towards others. All people want to be loved, and love carries nothing but the good and the bright. There is no need to show cruelty in words, actions, or even thoughts! When we say something to a person, we not only affect they ears, body and mind, but also their soul. We must not allow our words to offend a person, destroy they inner peace and tranquility. On the contrary, you need to bring calmness, peace, and kindness to others so that people feel good around you. When touching a person, you also need to remember that he is the likeness of God, just like yourself. Will you beat them or slander them after that? I don't think so.
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Баушова М.
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| busiginaliza00 | Дата: Понедельник, 22.12.2025, 17:17 | Сообщение # 12 |
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| We all want to be treated softly, with good words. So the main thing is to start with yourself, to not throw hard words around, but to hold back a bit, to soften your own tone first.
I notice that a lot of conflict starts almost by accident. Someone says one thing, you react quickly with another, and it grows from there, but when you manage to stop that first impulse - to bite your tongue, even if you think you're right - the situation calms down.
It's like a daily task. You catch yourself about to say something sharp, and you just... don't. You choose a simpler, quieter word. Over time, people notice, they start to talk to you differently in return. It's quiet work, it's often frustrating, and you fail at it constantly, but it’s worth the result.
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| boriskorsun3 | Дата: Понедельник, 22.12.2025, 19:12 | Сообщение # 13 |
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| I completely agree with Gerondissa Makrina's statement. Even small children know this - treat others the way you would like to be treated. This is an axiom of all life. If you are an open and cheerful person who treats everyone like his own brothers and sisters, then you will definitely agree with this idea. There are, of course, biased people who will initially be against you. But then why waste your energy and nerves on them at all? It is possible that their attitude towards you will only improve after your humility, which will lead to an even stronger bond. Personally, that's how I found one of my best friends.
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| vvecheslova | Дата: Пятница, 16.01.2026, 03:54 | Сообщение # 14 |
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| This saying feels gentle and cuts deep. It’s not about grand spiritual feats or dramatic sacrifices, it’s about the quiet, daily work of becoming soft: soft in speech, in touch, in presence. And that softness isn’t weakness, it’s strength refined by self-disci[line and care.
I’ve noticed how easy it is to be sharp with people when I’m tired, stressed, or feeling unseen. A short reply, a sigh, a cold silence - none of it feels like cruelty in the moment, but it leaves marks. Saint Nektarios reminds us that if we long to be met with kindness, gentleness and respect, then we must initiate that tone, not wait for it. Love isn’t just something we hope to receive. It’s something we’re asked to embody first.
The image of cotton stays with me. Cotton doesn’t resist, it absorbs and comforts. It doesn’t poke or scratch. To become soft like a cotton means letting go of the need to be right, to win, to defend every slight. It means speaking difficult truths with warmth, not ice. And honeyed word aren’t flattery, they’re words chosen not just for honesty, but for healing.
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