A novice under a temptation which seemed to her insurmountable said: “This time I cannot rise above it--it is impossible.” Thérèse replied: “Why do you try to rise above it? Pass beneath it quite simply. It is very well for great souls to soar high above the clouds when the storm is raging, but for us, we have merely to bear the showers with patience. If we do get rather wet--no matter! We shall dry ourselves afterwards in the sunshine of Love.” That brings to mind this little trait of my childhood; a horse one day standing at the garden gate barred our entrance; those with me endeavoured by force of talking, etc., to get him to move back, but while they talked I very quietly slipped in, through the horse’s legs.... See how one may gain by remaining little! COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES To a young Sister discouraged at seeing her imperfections, Sœur Thérèse said: “You make me think of a very little child who is just able to stand upright but does not yet know how to walk. Intent upon reaching the top of the stairs so as to get back to his mother he lifts his foot to climb the first step. Fruitless endeavour! At each attempt he falls without advancing in the least. Well, be like that little child; by the practice of every virtue keep on ever lifting your little foot to climb the steps of sanctity, and do not imagine that you will be able to mount even the first! No; but good will is all God requires of you. From the top of those steps He is watching you with love; and won by your unavailing efforts He will Himself soon come down, and taking you in His arms will bear you away to His Kingdom, never more to quit Him. But if you cease to lift your little foot He will leave you a long time on earth.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES The only means of making rapid progress in the path of Love is to remain always very _little_; that is what I have done; so now I can sing with our Father St. John of the Cross: And stooping so low, so low, I rose still higher and higher And thus I attained my end. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES Someone was speaking to her of the mortifications of the Saints, she replied: “It is well our Lord has let us know that _there are many mansions in His Father’s House, that if not He would have told us_.[83] Yes, if all souls called to perfection had been obliged to practise these macerations in order to enter Heaven, He would have said so, and gladly would we have undertaken them. But He tells us that _in His House there are many mansions_. If there are those for great souls, for the Fathers of the Desert and for martyrs of penance, there must be one also for little children. Our place is reserved there, if our love be great--for Him and for our Heavenly Father and the Spirit of Love.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES