One day, St. Gertrude was upset over a particular fault that she would often commit. She felt bad about it and how frequently she did it. Wanting to stop once and for all, she begged Our Lord to free her from it.

His answer, loving and insightful, was not the reply she expected.

"Do you want Me to be deprived of a great honor and you yourself of a great reward? Know that every time one sees a fault of his own and resolves to avoid it for the future, he gains a great reward. And as often as he keeps himself from falling into it again for My sake, he does Me as much honor as a valiant soldier does for his king, when he fights manfully against his enemies and conquers them."