The practice of patience toward one another, the overlooking of

The spiritual writer Lawrence G. Lovasik, a man devoted to the teaching of kindness and practical holiness, proclaimed these timeless words: “The practice of patience toward one another, the overlooking of one another's defects, and the bearing of one another's burdens is the most elementary condition of all human and social activity in the family, in the professions, and in society.” In this teaching he lays the cornerstone of community itself: that without patience, without forbearance, and without the willingness to bear burdens together, no family, no profession, and no society can endure. These are not lofty ornaments of virtue, but the foundation upon which human life must rest.

To practice patience with one another is to recognize that every soul is incomplete, unfinished, and striving. If we demand perfection from our brothers, our companions, or even ourselves, we demand what cannot be given. It is only by slowing our judgment, enduring shortcomings, and giving space for growth that we create bonds that last. Overlooking defects is not blindness, but mercy — the choice to see the person before the flaw, to value the soul above its imperfections. In this way, Lovasik points us to the truth that human society is not built on perfection, but on forgiveness.

History gives us shining examples of this truth. Consider Abraham Lincoln, whose cabinet was famously filled with men who had once opposed him bitterly. Some mocked him, some resisted him, yet Lincoln bore with their tempers and their defects. His patience transformed rivalry into unity, and in time these very men became allies in holding together a nation at war with itself. Had Lincoln demanded perfection or lashed out at every fault, the Union might have crumbled. But because he bore their burdens, he strengthened the cause of freedom.

So too in the quiet realm of family life. Parents bear the missteps of children with patience, children endure the flaws of parents with understanding, and siblings learn to overlook defects for the sake of love. Without this mercy, homes dissolve into bitterness; with it, homes become sanctuaries where hearts are healed and character is formed. This is why Lovasik calls such practice “elementary” — it is the most basic law of human relationship, without which no household can survive.

In the professions, the same law applies. Colleagues and leaders are not perfect; each carries both talents and failings. To demand flawless labor is to create resentment; to bear burdens together is to create strength. The greatest enterprises in history — whether the building of cathedrals, the voyages of discovery, or the founding of nations — were not the work of perfect men, but of flawed men who forgave each other’s defects and pressed on for a greater cause. Thus, patience is not weakness but the oil that keeps the machinery of human endeavor from grinding to a halt.

Even society at large survives by this principle. Laws may guide, and institutions may organize, but it is the patience of citizens with one another, their willingness to forgive, endure, and help carry the weight of shared burdens, that allows communities to thrive. Where patience fails, society fractures into hostility. Where burdens are borne together, society flourishes in unity. This is why Lovasik insists that this virtue is not optional, but the condition of all human activity.

Therefore, O children of wisdom, learn this lesson well: the strength of humanity lies not in perfection, but in patience. Practice daily the art of forbearance; choose to overlook defects rather than magnify them; step forward to help bear the burdens of others rather than adding to their weight. In your family, in your profession, in your society, this practice will sustain peace where conflict threatens, harmony where division grows, and love where hatred lurks. Remember Lovasik’s wisdom: without patience, the bonds of life unravel; with it, they are woven into a fabric that endures the storms of time.