"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself..." (Lev. 19:18)

Renowned British novelists William Thackeray and Charles Dickens once had a vicious quarrel. Just before Christmas in 1863 they met in London, but refused to speak with one another. Pricked in his conscience, Thackeray turned back and seized the hand of his friend, saying he couldn't bear the coldness between them. Dickens was touched, and the old anger and jealousy gave way to reconciliation. Shortly afterward, Thackeray suddenly died. Reflecting on this incident, a man who knew both Thackeray and Dickens wrote in his memoirs, "The next time I saw Dickens he was standing at the grave of his rival. He must have rejoiced, I thought, that he had shaken hands so warmly a few days before."

"Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." (James 5:9)