October 10

"Fret¹ not" (Ps. 37:1)

This to me is a Divine command; the same as "Thou shalt not steal." (Ex.20:15) Now let us get to the definition of fretting². One good definition is, "Made rough on the surface." "Rubbed, or worn away"; and a peevish³, irrational⁴, fault-finding person not only wears himself out, but is very wearing to others. To fret is to be in a state of vexation, and in this Psalm⁵ we are not only told not to fret because of evildoers, but to fret not "in anywise." It is injurious, and God does not want us to hurt ourselves.

A physician will tell you that a fit of anger is more injurious to the system than a fever, and a fretful disposition⁶ is not conducive⁷ to a healthy body; and you know rules are apt to work both ways, and the next step down from fretting is crossness, and that amounts to anger. Let us settle this matter, and be obedient to the command, "Fret not."━Margaret Bottome

【OVERHEARD IN AN ORCHARD】

Said the Robin⁸ to the Sparrow:

“I should really like to know,

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so?”

Said the Sparrow to the Robin:

“Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no Heavenly Father,

Such as cares for you and me.”

━Elizabeth Cheney

十月十日

「不要….心怀不平。」 （诗卅七:1）

这是神的命令，和「不可偷盗」（出廿:15）一样是神的命令。现在让我们替「心怀不平」下一个定义。到底甚么叫作「心怀不平」呢？在这里有一个很好的定义：「『心怀不平』是平面上起皱纹。」「磨擦或者消磨」。一个乖戾的、无理性的、吹毛求疵的人不但消磨自己，并且消磨别人。「心怀不平」就是心中烦恼。这是有害的，神不要我们自己伤害自己。

医生能告诉你：发一次怒，对于身体损害，比发一次热还厉害，所以一个常常「心怀不平」的人不能得到康健的身体，因为我们知道「心怀不平」容易叫我们生气，生气容易叫我们发怒。让我们服从神的命令━「不要…心怀不平！」━襥登

【园内偶闻】

知更鸟对麻雀说:

「我真希望知道,

这些忧心如焚的人类,

为何如此紧张烦恼?」

麻雀对知更鸟说:

「同伴啊,我想是这缘故,

他们不像你和我,

有天父在照顾。」

━伊利莎伯.珍妮

1 fret   

v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损

参考例句：

• Don't fret.We'll get there on time.别着急，我们能准时到那里。
• She'll fret herself to death one of these days.她总有一天会愁死的.

2 fretting   

n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的

参考例句：

• Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
• The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。

3 peevish   

adj.易怒的，坏脾气的

参考例句：

• A peevish child is unhappy and makes others unhappy.一个脾气暴躁的孩子自己不高兴也使别人不高兴。
• She glared down at me with a peevish expression on her face.她低头瞪着我，一脸怒气。

4 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

5 psalm   

n.赞美诗，圣诗

参考例句：

• The clergyman began droning the psalm.牧师开始以单调而低沈的语调吟诵赞美诗。
• The minister droned out the psalm.牧师喃喃地念赞美诗。

6 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

7 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

8 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。