Temperance

There is such a sweet beauty and attraction in temperance, a refreshing place in the land between excess and denial. Its residents enjoy the simple delights and bounty of life, but own the strength of will to not be enslaved by them. Overindulgence is no one’s master and the goodness of life is enjoyed in moderation and gratitude as a fine gift. A person of true temperance (not just of temporary self-denial) is an oasis in the wilderness of obsession. They are alive and astute to recognize and receive with grace and gratitude the excellent things but their respect for themselves, the beauty of those good things and the Giver of good things maintains an unwillingness to mar the purity of these good things by excessiveness. Their deference to beauty and purity is a refreshing reminder to revisit reverence often. These ones have not forgotten that reverence for God involves recognizing His characteristics and goodness in all of His gifts, accepting them all as good and right, even necessary in this, though temporary and mortal life. Delighting in the goodness of His provision they enjoy with temperance the perfect gifts He has given, practicing moderation by neither refusing all in the name of self-denial or over-indulging, playing the glutton.