263- The Room of Memories

 

St-Takla.org Image: Memories, a man thinking, sitting, watching sunset صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: الذكريات، رجل يفكر وهو جالس، غروب الشمس

Andrew asked his elder brother, “Prophet David had faith in God’s forgiving love, but why did he repeat the phrase, ‘My sin is ever before me’?”

The latter answered, “He had faith that God forgave his sins yet he feared that he might sin again. That is why he always remembered his sins as well as the wealth of God’s infinite grace to him.”

Andrew asked, “Isn’t it enough to remember God’s gifts to us?”

His brother replied, “There is a Persian story about a shepherd who was very poor then he became a high-ranking official in the king’s court. He kept a room that he called “the room of memories”, in which he put his shepherd’s stick, his sling and his clothes. He used to start his day by spending an hour in that room remembering who he was and what he has become. That hour gave him a lot of happiness, glee and wisdom. It also made him humble and compassionate towards the poor.

 So if we remember our sins and how God gave us His generosity and sanctity, made us His children in the water of baptism and made His Holy spirit work in us, we should thank God for His gifts. Also we should remember our brethren the sinners so that we may be compassionate to them and desire their salvation.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: حجرة الذكريات.

My sin is ever before me.

Your infinite grace is ever present with me.

My whole life becomes an eternal sacrifice of thanking,

For Thine is the glory, O Savior of all.

A Happy War

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

At the Head of the Table