7 May | Youth

Poison

«For wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple one.» Job 5:2

Accidents involving poison are common. The labels of many toxic products contain the recommendation: “Keep out of the reach of children.” Poisoning and intoxication can be extremely dangerous and pose a real risk of death.

One family almost experienced a tragedy because of this. The house was full of ants, and the residents did not know what else to do. Someone had the idea of mixing rat poison in a jar of caramel sauce. The plan was that, attracted by the sugar, the ants would smear themselves on the sweet and die of poisoning without realizing it. The problem is that they forgot to keep their “work of art” out of the reach of children. The result: the couple's two young children had to spend a few days in the hospital and almost died from poisoning. Stories like this are not uncommon. Poison is dangerous; mixed with food, however, it can go unnoticed by an unsuspecting person. Food acts as bait that surrounds and hides the toxic hook.

There are other dangerous ways to disguise some dangerous poisons. Grief, for example, is a terrible poison for the heart. Disguised as a legitimate feeling, it corrodes people's vitality. Feeding bad feelings, such as envy and resentment, is a sin. Besides not being appropriate to think something like that about someone, the worst effect is not felt by the other, but by those who have it in their hearts. Whoever does this fits perfectly into this comparison: “It is like someone who drinks a glass of poison and waits for their enemy to feel the effects and die.” Terrible mistake! Those who are truly harmed are those who are being eaten away, little by little, by harmful feelings from which they cannot free themselves.

It is worth following the wise advice of the patriarch Job. Resentment kills the foolish. Do you harbor any hurt or resentment towards someone? Have you led a life of criticism, bitterness and revenge because you cannot get rid of unresolved feelings in your mind? Do not mix poison with food. Do not intoxicate yourself with resentment and hurt. Nourish yourself with happiness and peace. Stay away from the poisons of life.