The Heart-Opening Flower: From hard-heartedness to generosity

Holly

Greed, Hatred, Envy, Jealousy

Envy

Jealousy, anger, suspicion

For those who are sometimes attacked by thoughts of such kind as jealousy, envy, revenge, suspicion. For different forms of vexation. Within themselves they may suffer much, often when there is no real cause for their unhappiness.

Reflection

Holly reflects envy, and the anger and suspicion that grow beside it. Another person's good becomes a wound. Charity, as Paul describes it, does not envy. The spiritual work is to bless what God has given someone else, and to bring jealousy into the light before it hardens into hatred.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV). "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up."

Meditation

Father, I confess this envy. Turn it into blessing. Teach my heart to rejoice when good comes to someone else.