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

397- Be Kind to Unbelievers

 

St-Takla.org Image: Two Christian friends with the Holy Bible and the Cross, spiritual friendship, by Amgad Wadea صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: صديقان مسيحيان، الصداقة المسيحية، صداقة روحية، بجانب الصليب والكتاب المقدس - رسم أمجد وديع

In 1997, at Los Angeles, Pope Shenouda told this story to the servants of Sunday school.

In my youth and while serving in Sunday school, I met a young man who did not have any thing to do with God; He never liked talking about God, church or everlasting life. I developed a strong relationship with him to make him benefit from God's salvation and worshiping in a church. The young man became happy and got good spiritual friends.

Suddenly, he stopped coming to church. I called him but he said, “I can’t come to church. One of the servants had a chat with me that made me feel that what I am doing is all wrong. I can’t be with you anymore. You have your way and I have mine.”

I spoke to him explaining how simple our faith is and the beauty of the spiritual life. I started with him from scratch after that servant who wanted to make him bear responsibilities beyond his capacity, which discouraged him. Pope Shenoda commented on that story that we should be kind to those who are new to the faith.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: لا تثقلوا على الراجعين من الأمم.

Your path is a happy one my Lord.

You invite me to go through the narrow path,

But I can see You carrying the cross with me,

So I forget the narrow path and I become occupied with you.

Let me not burden my brothers,

But through kindness and mercy, I bring them to You,

Who through Your love carry the whole world.

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