Craig T. Owens

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My cousin shared this quote from Francois Fenelon with me a couple of weeks ago, and it has continued to work on my heart—

I do not want to please men except so far as it is necessary in order to please Thee.

If Thou wishest to use me for Thy work for them, I give myself to it, and, without thinking about myself I shall simply spread to them all the gifts which Thou hast poured upon me. I shall not go forward groping, always falling back upon myself.

However dangerous and disintegrating the duty may be, I shall behave simply before Thee with a right intention, knowing the goodness of the Father before Whom I walk. He wants no subtlety in His own.

If, on the contrary, Thou dost not wish to use me for others, I shall by no means offer myself. I shall not anticipate anything.

I shall perform in peace the other things to which Thou dost limit me. Because, according to the grace of yielding which Thou dost give me, I neither desire nor refuse anything. I am ready for anything, and consent to be useless in everything.

Sought, refused, known, ignored, praised, contradicted, what does it matter? It is Thou, and not me. It is Thou, and not Thy gifts separate from Thee and Thy love, which I seek for. All good conditions are immaterial to me. (Francois Fenelon)

May we all make this our prayer: It is Thou.

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