Too busy to ponder.... or even putter!

I have promised myself though I am going to post about Holy Week and Passover each day. Trying to capture the theological meaning of the day in a single picture too.

Sunday is Palm Sunday

Monday is the eve of Passover

Tuesday is Passover

Wednesday is for Tenenbrae

Thursday is Maunday Thursday and the beginning of the Great Vigil

Friday is Good Friday

Saturday is Holy Saturday

Sunday is Easter

Monday is Easter Monday

Tuesday is the Last night of Passover

Then I have from Wednesday through Sunday to rest and prepare to finish up this academic year!

virtues and sins

These are all the sins and virtues mixed together. Just like in life it is hard to tell the difference.

virtues and sins
Originally uploaded by sandiemg.

What green are you-- from Susan

You Are Emerald Green

You Are Emerald Green

Deep and mysterious, it often seems like no one truly gets you. Inside, you are very emotional and moody - though you don't let it show. People usually have a strong reaction to you... profound love or deep hate. But you can even get those who hate you to come around. There's something naturally harmonious about you.

What Color Green Are You?

Well, it sounds pretty close. It happens to be my very favorite color too!

Nathan.....

Knowing the heart of a 14 almost 15 year old young man is hard and often scary. He is also still under constant parental supervision with very limited privileges. He has made some progress towards earning privileges back, but I am not sure there has been a true change of heart.

He wore dress pants, dress shirt and tie yesterday to church....normally we are arguing over his tee-shirt and sagging shorts. He wanted to surprise me with his new look. It was a great surprise! He did about 4 plus hours of lawn work yesterday and another 3 today before the tractor broke. He is cooking supper and generally being nice, but there is still his mouth.

Even when we agree he seems to want to make it sound like we are arguing. It is frustrating. It brings up the grace vs works issues for me sometimes. He works and does the work required to earn his privileges back, but the grace, the change of heart just doesn't seem to be there at all.

I am going to trust that as he matures his heart will mature too. I continue to pray that he will keep his thrill seeking ways legal and safe. I will continue to come up with challenges for him to solve. I will continue to push him to be the best person he can be.

Teen bonding....

I missed the picture of Athena covered in flour using a rolling pin to make buttermilk biscuts :) I assure you it is not a sight that happens very often.

Kayleigh loves to cook, Nathan is an excellent cook, but Miss Athena neither loves it nor is very good at it. So, why you ask were the two of us cooking all day (baked a chicken, started enough flour for 6 loaves soaking, made 6 dozen biscuts, jello, and a chocolate bundt cake) ......Two basic reasons, one it allowed us to avoid doing the taxes again today and second when we do 'money or business stuff' neither one of us are relaxed enough to just talk.

We needed to talk today. It has been exactly one week since she made a very foolish choice that landed her in deeper trouble than I think she has ever been in. I have had a week to process, put things in perspective, and calm down. She has had a week of no phone, no computer, no driving, no going anywhere without one of us present, extra chores, extra school work, and extra cooking duties. To her credit she has fulfilled all her responsibilities and restrictions beautifully. Not one single complaint, not one single pushing of boundries, not one attempt to break our agreement of earning each one of her privileges back.

We had a nice long talk while cooking today. I think she has turned the corner on childhood and is firmly on the path of young adulthood. She accepts responsibility for her choices, she understands the wisdom of making different ones, and she also seems to comprehend that it is important to choose your friends wisely. What more could I ask of her? Seventeen year olds screw-up, but they also need the room to grow and repair as much of the damage as they can.

Today, I am at least as proud of her as I was disapointed last weekend. In less than 9 weeks she will graduate, I know she will be ready, she will have truly earned it. I will stand up in front of God, our family, and our friends and say to her "Today, you are a woman. This moments marks your giant step into the adult world. You are now responsible for your life and your choices." I still remember saying those words to Kayleigh 4 years ago. I occasionally have to remind her when I get the 'what should I do' phone calls that I will offer my opinion, but it is just than another opinion.

I flat out refuse to tell them what to do after graduation. I have had old students call me too, and the answer is the same for them. I will talk you through the pros and cons, I will offer an opinion if you want it, but the choices and consequences of those choices are yours. Good, bad and indifferent, when you ask others to tell you what to do you are no longer responsible, you can blame the other person, you will live with self-doubt, and you will always wonder 'what if'. When you weigh the options and make your own choice you build strength, wisdom and character.

Well, the taxes didn't get done today, but more important things did.

Adapted from this list.

Gifts of the Spirit....

Scripture has many lists of gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 :

• words of wisdom;

• words of knowledge;

• faith;

• healing;

• miracle-working;

• prophecy;

• distinguishing of spirits;

• tongues;

• interpretation of tongues.

Romans 12 : gifts of

• service,

• teaching,

• exhortation,

• giving,

• leadership,

• the showing of mercy.

Isaiah 11:1-5 : the spirit of :

• wisdom

• understanding,

• counsel,

• strength,

• knowledge, and

• the fear of the LORD.

".... if I enjoyed giving things to my children a thousand times more than keeping them for myself, so of course must He."
--------- Hannah Whitall Smith, in Logan Smith's *Philadelphia Quaker*

I like the idea of photos and pondering on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I think I am going to save it for after Easter in preparation for Pentecost.

Lust (Latin, luxuria)

Lust is usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Unfulfilled lusts can lead to sexual or sociological compulsions and/or transgressions including (but obviously not limited to) sexual addiction, adultery, bestiality, and rape.

Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. However, lust and love are two different things; while a genuine, selfless love can represent the highest degree of development and feeling of community with others in a human relationship, Lust can be described as the excessive desire for sexual release. The other person can be therefore seen as a "means to an end" for the fulfillment of the subject's desires, and becomes thus objectified in the process. In Purgatorio, the penitent walks within flames to purge himself of lustful thoughts.

Well, Antonio Bandaras just wasn't available to pose with chocolate covered strawberries and Champagne while wearing silk pj's, so this picture of me and my dh will just have to do for lust. I think of all the sins, this one shows up least in my life. While I do have a passing thought now and again for Antonio, it is not really Lust, because the definition of Lust is 1) excessive, and 2) sexual...I really just like looking at and listening to Antonio.

For over 23 years now, all my sexual thoughts have involved Dirk. There was a time, long ago, though when my sexual drive was stronger than his and my unfulfilled lust lead to late night chocolate raids. I doubt seriously that Dante ever thought of chocolate as sexual, but I know advertisers and many doctors understand the connection.

This is the part of the definition that really interested me: Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. This I might be guilty of fairly often. I will put others before my relationship with God most often when I am trying to avoid God. I will keep busy like Martha and complain about how I am the only one caring for everyone, while what I long to be doing is sitting at the feet of the Most High learning and soaking in the Peace Which Passes All Understanding.

I have always been taught that caring for others is putting God first, but like all other things it is also about priorities and perspective. When you start worshipping the creation instead of the Creator, things are out of whack.

Since that was the last sin, I will have to come up with 'seven' more things to ponder upon now...any suggestions?

Gold Thinking Blogger Award!

My friend Matt has honored me with the Gold Thinking Blogger Award; it's a nice way of recognizing the many great blogs that are out there, and it originated here. Once you've been tagged, it's your turn to select -- in no particular order -- five blogs that have impressed you for one reason or another and tag them with this award. Be sure that when you tag them, you link back to the original source of this award.

I only get to pick five, wow, last time I looked at my RSS feed it had something like 45 blogs on it! So, in no particular order and in an attempt to show some diversity....

Tia, she is an amazing mom who is going through the process of becoming Greek Orthodox, she has become debt free, and she believes in Living Deliberately.

Steve Walden, he is a wonderful dad who writes about what is on his heart. He comments on politics, news stories, family and homeschooling.

Ampersand, she is funny, thought provoking and always makes me think!

Jessica, another homeschooler, but she is just starting out on her journey. She makes me remember why I began homeschooling in the first place.

Jeff, this is a 365 Project blog. Jeff is very creative and sees the world differently and makes me look at ordinary things in a new way.

Envy (Latin, invidia)

Envy is characterized by an insatiable desire, those who commit the sin of Envy desire something that someone else has which they perceive themselves as lacking. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs." In Dante's Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire, because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low.

I have had to think long and hard about this one. I am not a very envious person. I have little jealousies here and there where I would like something like what someone else has or a skill like theirs, but it would never cross my mind to deprive them of it. When I searched my soul deeply, I did find envy there though in three cases...two are in the photo....

Models with flat stomachs, are my first occassional envy. I picture them with my stomach and me with theirs. It made me realize that I did objectify them and want them brought low. Not a side of myself that I liked looking at. Lottery winners are the other group that I envy. I hear all the stories of them winning and then wasting it all, ending up in worse financial shape than they started in. I want to win the lottery because I have such wonderful plans that would change so many lives, that I want it instead of the 'dumb' people who win. What's really funny about this one is that I only buy one dollar ticket every couple of weeks, so it is not like this is something I spend a lot of energy on, but it was still there...wanting to bring them down for my profit.

My sister is the only actual person on the face of the planet I have truly envied. She is beautiful and always has been. She was the pretty child that everyone adored, while I was ignored. Growing up she was athletic, talented musically, and got great grades, while I failed year after year, and had no talent, athletically or musically. She was fertile, while I cried myself to sleep wanting to have more children. Banks gave her money to buy houses, way before Dirk or I could swing it. She has always had a great job she loved making lots of money, while until recently I felt like all I did was struggled to pay bills and educate the kids. I spent lots of time focusing on what she had that I didn't have. I really wasted too much time wishing I was her.

I can honestly say now though, things have evened out. I no longer wish I was her or wish I had what she has. I am happy for her, healthy sibling jealous sometimes shows up, but I am so much happier with who I am now, that I don't need to wish for anyone else's life.

Gluttony (Latin, gula)

Modern views identify Gluttony with an overindulgence of food and drink, though in the past any form of thoughtless excess could fall within the definition of this sin. Gluttony is marked by unreasonable or unnecessary excess of consumption.

Finger foods! What is it about finger foods that causes 'unnecessary excess of consumption'? With other foods I can easily cut them in half and eat smaller portions, but with finger foods I tend to eat them until they are gone, just because they taste good. I hate it because it makes me feel stuffed and uncomfortable. Luckily, I rarely make things like this without having a huge house full of people. Lots of people, will stand around and eat them before I can overeat them! It works especially well when said people are teenagers :)

By sharing with everyone no one person eats too much. That makes me think of the other things in my life that I am thoughtlessly excessive about. If I shared them more with those who have none, my life would be simplier and a lot less stressful! I will be purging my excess of clothes and the excess of junk that has collected around here will be sold, recycled or hauled away.

I hope to replace thoughtless excess with deliberate simplifed choices.

Pride (Latin, superbia)

In almost every list Pride is considered the original and most serious of The Seven Deadly Sins, and indeed the ultimate source from which the others arise. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to give compliments to others though they may be deserving of them, and excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbour."

Ok, again books might seem like a strange connection to pride, but since this is about me, I'll explain. I am a book snob. I take too much pride in what I have read, what books I have available, and even the books I assign students. If I am not careful, I can insult and make others feel bad for what they haven't read. I feel contempt for those who don't read. Too often, I think reading makes me better than those who don't read. That pride gets in the way of me make an actual connection with the person.

There are many areas of my life where I feel inferior and I have used books to compensate. But one thing doesn't make up for the others. When the love of books has been put up on a pedestal, or used as weapon to make others feel bad, then it has been perverted. A good thing taken to the extreme and made bad.

I love it when people come into my house and see all my books. They think I am smart. Then I feel even smarter and more powerful when I can 'show off' and say have you read 'such and such'.... the answer is usually, no. There is a fine line between being proud of accomplishements and the sin of Pride that makes you feel better than others.

Greed (Latin, avaritia)

Greed is, like Lust and Gluttony, a sin of excess. However, Greed (as seen by the Church) applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular. Thomas Aquinas wrote that Greed was "a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things."

You might be wondering what this little monkey has to do with Greed....especially Greed with a big G. This little guy is too cute, he was bought for an even cuter little girl, then he was forgotten minutes later. I saw this little girl, about 5-6 yrs old, beg Dad over and over for this little guy. Dad said no, quite a few times, then the little girl dug her heels in and pulled out the big tears! Well, Dad melted went and bought the little monkey. He got a hug and a pretty smile, but it didn't last long. Because something else caught her eye and she HAD to have it. The monkey was left at the theatre and never reclaimed.

I saw the fit Saturday night when I was there with Nathan and then I saw the monkey in the same spot when I returned Sunday morning. I sat and looked at it all day Sunday thinking about how many times I had given into those fits and how I was teaching Greed with a big G. The acquisition of things, just because. I want to think I wasn't as gullable as "that Dad", but I know I was....still am sometimes.

My knowing mind and my emotional self are often in conflict when it comes to greed. I want money, who doesn't. I want nice things, again who doesn't, but at what expense. When does the acquisition of things cross the line into the sin of Greed? And how often by our actions are we teaching Greed without even thinking about it?

Visual Quiz....from Ampersand

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Wrath (Latin, ira)

I want thank Athena for helping me capture my vision.

Wrath may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. The transgressions borne of Wrath are among the most serious, including murder, assault, discrimination, and in extreme cases, genocide. Wrath is the only sin not necessarily associated with selfishness or self interest. Dante described Wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite".

I am not a very angry person. However, I do experience wrath...the uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger...when I think about my own body. I am content with my emotional life, my intellectual life, and very happy with my spiritual life, but when I think about my physical self this poisoned underground spring of hate bubbles up. I try and see past it. I do all the things the doctors tell me, I do all the things my personal trainers tell me, I do all things I know are 'right'. I keep doing, but all I want to do is stop doing. All this anger just sits simmering under the surface, this wrath that causes me to be self-destructive and want to give up.

It is not fair that none of it works. It is not fair that for 20 years my body has betrayed me, that people judge me and make assumptions about me on sight, it is not fair that I have missed out on so much due to my own preconcieved ideas. It is not fair that I can't dress up and be the pretty wife my husband deserves. It is not fair that nothing fits, and I have been told my two doctors that just holding my weight steady is a huge success, because of the PCOS. It doesn't feel like a success to see the scale holding steady or even dropping by 1/2 to 1/4 of a pound a week when I am doing what 'mathmatically' should result in 8-10 pound drops each week! I want to say 'what's th point', but I know that if I were not doing what I am doing, the scale would continue to climb at 2-3 pounds a week. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!

The kids wrote essays yesterday about how betrayal is an external and bitterness is internal. What happens when the betrayal is also internal? How do I keep the bitterness I feel at my body's betrayal from destroying all the things that are beautiful and wonderful in my life?

Okay, that's it. My wrath has been out long enough, it is time to put it back in its little box and get back to work.

Sloth (Latin, acedia)

More than other sins, the definition of Sloth has changed considerably since its original inclusion among The Seven Deadly Sins. It had been in the early years of Christianity characterized by what modern writers would now describe as apathy, depression, and joylessness — the latter being viewed as being a refusal to enjoy the goodness of God and the world He created. Originally, its place was fulfilled by two other aspects, Acedia and Sadness. The former described a spiritual apathy that affected the faithful by discouraging them from their religious work. Sadness (tristitia in Latin) described a feeling of dissatisfaction or discontent, which caused unhappiness with ones current situation. When St. Thomas Aquinas selected Acedia for his list, he described it as an "uneasiness of the mind," being a progenitor for lesser sins such as restlessness and instability. Dante refined this definition further, describing Sloth as being the "failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul." He also described it as the middle sin, and as such was the only sin characterised by an absence or insufficiency of love.

As I read this passage, over and over, I knew that my bedroom was the perfect shot for this sin. When we first moved in I had such high hopes for this room, but for one reason or another it kept being the room to 'put the junk' out of sight. It got over crowded and out of control. Over the last couple years as my responsibilities have increased, it is the room I have let go the most. The rest of the house is almost always presentable and well cared for. My bedroom is ignored, put off, forgotten about. There is not one thing I can put my finger on and say 'that's why', but it does stem from Dirk and I putting everyone else's needs before ours. Dirk's being sick just added to my disinterest in caring for my bedroom...which makes me feel bad because, I think I should care for it more. I love my husband more than life itself, this room however doesn't reflect that at all.

A couple's bedroom represents so much more than a place to sleep. I don't think I have thought about that in a long time. It is the only place we have in this big house that is private, ours, separate from others...and yet it is the area that I hate to go into now, avoid, dread, have lost interest in...that is the sin of sloth and I didn't realize how slowly it crept into my life.

The sins

From wikpedia

The sins

Lust (Latin, luxuria)

Lust is usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Unfulfilled lusts can lead to sexual or sociological compulsions and/or transgressions including (but obviously not limited to) sexual addiction, adultery, bestiality, and rape.

Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. However, lust and love are two different things; while a genuine, selfless love can represent the highest degree of development and feeling of community with others in a human relationship, Lust can be described as the excessive desire for sexual release. The other person can be therefore seen as a "means to an end" for the fulfillment of the subject's desires, and becomes thus objectified in the process. In Purgatorio, the penitent walks within flames to purge himself of lustful thoughts.

Gluttony (Latin, gula)

Modern views identify Gluttony with an overindulgence of food and drink, though in the past any form of thoughtless excess could fall within the definition of this sin. Marked by unreasonable or unnecessary excess of consumption, Gluttony could also include certain forms of destructive behavior, especially for sport, or for its own sake. Substance abuse or binge drinking can be seen as examples of gluttony therefore. The penitents in the Purgatorio were forced to stand between two trees, unable to reach or eat the fruit hanging from either, and were thus described as having a starved appearance.

Greed (Latin, avaritia)

Greed is, like Lust and Gluttony, a sin of excess. However, Greed (as seen by the Church) applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular. Thomas Aquinas wrote that Greed was "a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things." In Dante's Purgatory, the penitents were forced to kneel on hard stone and recite the examples of avarice and its opposing virtue. "Avarice" is more of a blanket term that can describe many other examples of sinful behaviour. These include disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain, as the case when someone lets oneself be bribed. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed. Such misdeeds can include Simony, where one profits from soliciting goods within the actual confines of a church.

Sloth (Latin, acedia)

More than other sins, the definition of Sloth has changed considerably since its original inclusion among The Seven Deadly Sins. It had been in the early years of Christianity characterized by what modern writers would now describe as apathy, depression, and joylessness — the latter being viewed as being a refusal to enjoy the goodness of God and the world He created. Originally, its place was fulfilled by two other aspects, Acedia and Sadness. The former described a spiritual apathy that affected the faithful by discouraging them from their religious work. Sadness (tristitia in Latin) described a feeling of dissatisfaction or discontent, which caused unhappiness with ones current situation. When St. Thomas Aquinas selected Acedia for his list, he described it as an "uneasiness of the mind," being a progenitor for lesser sins such as restlessness and instability. Dante refined this definition further, describing Sloth as being the "failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul." He also described it as the middle sin, and as such was the only sin characterised by an absence or insufficiency of love.

The modern view of the vice, as highlighted by its contrary virtue zeal/diligence, is that it represents the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts. For example, a student who does not work beyond what is required (and thus fails to achieve his or her full potential) would be slothful.

Current interpretations are therefore much less stringent and comprehensive than they were in medieval times, and portray Sloth as being more simply a sin of laziness, of an unwillingness to act, an unwillingness to care (rather than a failure to love God and His works). For this reason Sloth is now often seen as being considerably less serious than the other sins. (See Tower of Babel)

Wrath (Latin, ira)

Wrath may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. These feelings can manifest as vehement denial of the truth, both to others and in the form of self-denial, impatience with the procedure of law, and the desire to seek revenge outside of the workings of the justice system (such as engaging in vigilantism), fanatical political beliefs, and generally wishing to do evil or harm to others. A modern definition would also include hatred and intolerance towards others for reasons of race or religion, leading to discrimination. The transgressions borne of Wrath are among the most serious, including murder, assault, discrimination, and in extreme cases, genocide. (See Crimes against humanity.) Wrath is the only sin not necessarily associated with selfishness or self interest (although one can of course be wrathful for selfish reasons, such as jealousy). Dante described Wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite".

Envy (Latin, invidia)

Like Greed, Envy is characterized by an insatiable desire, they differ, however, for two main reasons: First, Greed is largely associated with material goods, whereas Envy may apply more generally. Second, those who commit the sin of Envy desire something that someone else has which they perceive themselves as lacking. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs." In Dante's Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire, because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low.

Pride (Latin, superbia)

In almost every list Pride is considered the original and most serious of The Seven Deadly Sins, and indeed the ultimate source from which the others arise. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to give compliments to others though they may be deserving of them, and excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbour." In Jacob Bidermann's medieval miracle play, Cenodoxus, Pride is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the famed Doctor of Paris, Cenodoxus. In perhaps the most famous example, the story of Lucifer, Pride was what caused his Fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation into Satan. Vanity and Narcissism are prime examples of this Sin. In the Divine Comedy, the penitent were forced to walk with their heads bowed while they were whipped in order to induce feelings of humility.

Thursday Thirteen (guilty pleasures)

1) Okay, musically...I like pop, silly bubble gum pop..like Fergie and the Pussycat Dolls

2) I enjoy watching Sweet 16 on MTV, usually just to see out of touch with reality the girls are, but sometimes it is just to see how out of touch I am :)

3) Antonio Banderas...I will watch, happily anything he is in, evenhis really bad movies and the little bee comercials. I love his voice and his eyes.

4) Reading trashy romance novels...the less literatry value the better. It helps if they are set in faraway times and places.

5) Deal or no Deal.... I do not have any clue why I sit and watch this, except that trying to match the bank offer is fun. I am usually very close. I love finguring out the odds.

6) Animal planet, That's My Baby birth stories of all the cute animals.

7) Googling random things or thoughts to see where it leads me.

8) Surfing blogs... both of those I know and those I don't know. Random blogging is always a treat when I am bored.

9) Algebra...I know, it is really embarassing, but I will get Algebra books out and do problems when I am alone just for fun.

10) Making s'more in the fireplace on cold nights. Dark chocolate and homemade marshmallows on cinnamon graham crackers make them healthy..right :)

11) Challenging kids to see another side on an issue by playing Devil's Advocate. I will take a position I totally disagree with so that they have to defend what they believe. It is fun because they are always trying to figure out what I 'really think'.

12) Eavesdropping the kids conversations from another room. The house is set up with a very open plan and I can hear things from even another floor. They know I can hear, but often foget it.

13) Talking to myself in public. It used to drive people crazy..or they thought I was crazy, but now with phones and bluetooth stuff it is stranger to be quiet in public.

Thank you Laura!

I am posting these here, because I want to ponder them more and figure out how to photograph them this month.

Chastity (Latin, castitas) (purity, opposes lust, Latin luxuria) —
Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment. Practicing proper love and its expression due to one's spiritual vocation.
Abstinence (Latin, frenum) (self-control, opposes gluttony, Latin gula) —
Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
Liberality (Latin, liberalitas) (will, generosity, opposes greed, Latin avaritia) —
Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
Diligence (Latin, industria) (ethics, opposes sloth, Latin acedia) —
A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Acting energetically without excessive reflection.
Kindness (Latin, patientia) (peace, opposes wrath, Latin ira) —
Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
Patience (Latin, humanitas) (satisfaction, opposes envy, Latin invidia) —
Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
Humility (Latin, humilitas) (modesty, opposes pride, Latin superbia)
Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.