To be a Peacemaker....

"To be a peacemaker means not to judge or condemn or speak badly of people, not to rejoice in any form of ill that may strike them.  Peacemaking is holding people gently in prayer, wishing them to be well and free.  Peacemaking is welcoming people who are weak and in need, maybe just with a smile, giving them support, offering them kindness and tenderness, and opening our hearts to them.  It is welcoming those with whom we may have difficulty or whom we may not especially like, those who are culturally, psychologically, or intellectually different from us.  It is to approach people not from a pedestal, a position of power and certitude, in order to solve problems, but from a place of listening, understanding, humility, and love."
                                                                                                                      ~ Jean Vanier