April 14. “How far you go depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” (George Washington Carver)

Tenderness, compassion, sympathy and tolerance – these are four virtues that are worthy guides to any life. In today’s quote, George Washington Carver reminds us all to show these virtues to others in at least the measure we want them shown us.

I probably could write for a full week on this quote, and what it does and should mean in my life. I could reflect on the times when I have shown each of these virtues, and the times when I have needed them shown me. As I sit here on this Monday morning, I am thinking of examples on both sides of all of them.

But for today, I let this quote stand as it is. I am going to just spend the day internalizing what this quote means to me, and how I am or am not following the author’s advice.