Whenever I read this verse, Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart: (Proverbs 3:3) I will think that although thousands of years have passed, these words spoken of by Solomon, the king of wisdom, benefit us at all times.

Some time ago, I had a dispute with my partner at work. After going home, I was very angry whenever I thought of her words. So I prayed to God and asked Him to quiet my heart. After prayer, I remembered God’s words, “Normal humanity includes these aspects: insight, sense, conscience, and character. If you can achieve normality in each of these respects, your humanity is up to standard. You should have the likeness of a normal human being and behave like a believer in God. You don’t have to achieve great heights or engage in diplomacy. You just have to be a normal human being, with a normal person’s sense, be able to see through things, and at least look like a normal human being. That will be enough. … A lot of people see that the age has changed, so they don’t exercise any humility or patience, and they might as well not have any love or saintly decency either. These people are too absurd! Do they have an ounce of normal humanity? Do they have any testimony to speak of? They don’t have any insight and sense whatsoever.” Pondering God’s words and thinking back to what had happened between my partner and me, I felt very ashamed. I always thought I was right, she was wrong, and I even had a dispute with her. I had no tolerance or patience for her and also failed to live out the likeness of a Christian. When I realized my problem, I didn’t fixate my eyes on her any longer but made up my mind to practice according to God’s requirements. Later, when faced with my partner, I didn’t complain but tried to practice love and patience, and speak the words within my heart to her. After I did so, my partner also opened her heart to me. We both laughed …

Nowadays, we seldom reflect on our own deeds when we complain that it’s even more difficult to interact with others. When it touches on our own interests, we have no love for others. There is no exception in the interaction between colleagues, friends or even a couple. When we have no love or tolerance for others, what we do cannot benefit others or ourselves. However, when we put aside ourselves and get along with others with love and patience, we can all gain benefit.