““In all their activities Christians are “filled with joy uttering and doing the precepts of the Lord,” teaching their children never to lose hold of God’s commandments and hope. 18 Christians have God’s laws inscribed on their hearts: “You shall not kill . . . you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and “to him that smites you on the one cheek, offer also the other. . . . You [must] patiently endure [hypomenein] the severity of the way of salvation.” 19 At times this approach may lead to martyrdom; if it does so, the martyrs will confirm the truth of their words by their deeds, demonstrate patience to their executioners, and express love to the Lord. 20””
![“Instead of negotiating or begging for mercy, [my brother Damascene] challenged them to kill him. "Go ahead," he said. "What are you waiting for? Today is my day to go to God. I can feel Him all around us. He is watching, waiting to take me home. Go ahead--finish your work and send me to paradise…” quote by Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb0/immaculee-ilibagiza-24828_compassion_instead-of-negotiating-or-begging-for-me_2822609.jpg)
