He that forgives wins the first laurel

My friend Nancy and I drove from Ashland to Redding yesterday, over Siskiyou Summit which had hours earlier been closed to traffic because of a blizzard. More snow was predicted and I have to get to Sacramento to fly to Kansas City tomorrow for a long-planned speaking event. We squeeked through between storms.

Last night, in the lounge of the Holiday Inn, Nancy gave me my Christmas present (yes, I know it's the end of February, but things have been a tad hectic). It is glorious. And perfect. A quote by George Fox (Quaker, 1624-1691) calligraphed by Ashland's Diane Amaratico on ivory-colored art paper. I want to share it with you.

"A good end cannot sanctify evil means nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it. It is as great a presumption to send our passions upon God's errands as it is to palliate them with God's name...We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive or gain by love and information. And yet we could hurt no man that we believe loves us.

"Let us then try what love will do, for if men did once see we love them we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue...but love gains, and he that forgives first wins the laurel." George Fox