A Chance For Virtue

"The worst thing that can befall persons who have good will is to want to be what they cannot be and not want to be what they necessarily must be.  They conceive desires to do great things, which perhaps will never be expected of them; in the meantime, they neglect the little things which God puts into their hands.  There are thousands of acts of virtue, as for example:

to bear little troubles and the imperfections of our neighbors;
to suffer a biting word or some little injustice;
to repress a harsh word;
to mortify a little attachment or curiosity;
to refrain from giving a bit of news;
to excuse an indiscretion;
to be condescending toward others in little things -
these are for everyone, so why not practice them?"
                                                                                   (St. Francis de Sales) 
(Mary Cassattt painting public domain)