WORK OF LOVE

Christ has conquered the world and has saved it,because he has suffered with love and joy, that is, has conquered suffering and has taught us to do the same.
I know this, but am still unable to learn it, althoughI see for sure that I am moving in this direction.
May God help all men to do the common work, the work of love, by word, deed, abstinence, effort : here, not to speak a bad word, not to do what would be worse;there, to overcome timidity and false shame, and to do what is necessary, what is good, —what is loving.
All tiny, imperceptible acts and words,— but from these mustard-seeds grows the tree of love which with its branches shades the whole world.
This work may God aid us to do with our friends, with our enemies, with strangers, in moments when our mood is the highest, and in moments when it is the lowest.
And it will be well for us, and it will be well for everybody.
LEO TOLSTOY