“Even after 14 years of marriage, Eric and I don’t carry around bitterness and resentment toward each other for past hurts. This isn’t because we never hurt each other- far from it. Rather, our marriage slate is kept clean because we deal with issues as soon as they arise. It’s a conflict habit we developed when we were first married, and it has made an incredible difference in our relationship. Never once have we gone to bed angry with each other- even if it meant we had to stay up all night talking things out and making them right. We kill the seeds of bitterness before they have a chance to grow. We wake up each morning knowing that things are right between us.”

-Leslie Ludy, The Lost Art of True Beauty 

“Someone once said that your humility can be measured by how quickly you admit you are wrong…. the moment you recognize that someone has hurt you, immediately stop, pray, and give the offense back to God. The more you mull over it, think about it, and go over the scene in your mind, the more it has opportunity to take root within your soul and plant deep seeds of bitterness. But if you are quick to forgive, you keep your heart and conscience clean before God. Even if the other person never comes to you and asks your forgiveness, remember that forgiveness is first and foremost an issue between you and God. We are not merely to forgive only when someone becomes humble and admits their faults, but even when they don’t realize what they have done. Remember Jesus on the cross praying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’? (Luke 23:34).”

-LESLIE LUDY, The Lost Art of True Beauty

Jim Elliot once wrote, “Wherever you are, be all there.” In our microwaveable, fast-paced society, most of us are distracted and preoccupied with a hundred different things at any given time. In order to savor the romance of life, we must learn how to live purposefully- to treat each conversation, experience, and activity as valuable and worthy of our time and focus. It means a shift from a haphazard, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants lifestyle to thoughtful, meaningful living. It means not carelessly spending our time on mindless, meaningless things, but treating each moment of the day as a valuable gift from God, not to be wasted on shelfish whims.

-Leslie Ludy, The Lost Art of True Beauty