"You who are in the Monastery, when you approach your brother, you who are a husband, when you approach your wife, you who are a father, mother, when you approach your child... whatever you are going to say to him, whatever you are thinking of saying to him, say it, after first saying two words to him that will give him joy, comfort, a breath.
Make him say, I am relieved, I am glad! Make others
boast of you, love you, jump for joy when they meet you.
Because all people in their lives, in their homes, in
their bodies and in their souls have pain, illnesses, difficulties, suffering,
and each one hides the pain in his secret pocket, in his heart, in his home, so
that others do not know.
So I do not know what pain you have and you do not
know what pain I have.
I can laugh and shout, play, but deep down I am
hurting, and I laugh and shout, to cover up my sadness.
Therefore, give the other first a smile, a prayer.”
+Elder
Emilian of Simonopetri.
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