--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who really can receive bread from a…" description: "\"“Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and smile in gratitude, can feed many without even realizing it. Those who can sit in silence with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_caring_those-who-really-can-receive-bread-from_337199.jpg" --- # Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and… ![“Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and smile in gratitude, can feed many without even realizing it. Those who can sit in silence with their fellow man not knowing what to say but knowing that they should be there, can bring new life in a dying heart. Those who are not afraid to…” quote by Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_caring_those-who-really-can-receive-bread-from_337199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_caring_those-who-really-can-receive-bread-from_337199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_caring_those-who-really-can-receive-bread-from_337199.jpg) > ““Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and smile in gratitude, can feed many without even realizing it. Those who can sit in silence with their fellow man not knowing what to say but knowing that they should be there, can bring new life in a dying heart. Those who are not afraid to hold a hand in gratitude, to shed tears in grief, and to let a sigh of distress arise straight from the heart, can break through paralyzing boundaries and witness the birth of a new fellowship, the fellowship of the broken.”” [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude and silent presence can heal others unknowingly, creating deep fellowship among the broken. **In simple terms:** Being grateful and present helps others heal. Key Takeaway Practice quiet empathy and gratitude. Themes compassion presence healing community vulnerability Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - volunteering - support groups - grief work Key Concepts empathy spirituality interpersonal connection Questions to Reflect On - How can you show gratitude without losing yourself? - When does silence become avoidance? A Different Perspective May overlook personal boundaries or burnout if not self‑caring. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministry/) [New life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Sit In Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-in-silence/) ## Related quotes > [“This leaves us with the urgent question: How can we be or become a caring community, a community of people not trying to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/this-leaves-us-with-the-urgent-question-how-can-we-be-or-become-a/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“When we receive the bread and blood, we, also, are touching God...I know you recognize that wonderous fact, dear brother, but sometimes it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/when-we-receive-the-bread-and-blood-we-also-are-touching-god-i-know/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“Don't miss work and never be late. Your boss will appreciate it, and he will reward you by shaking your hand in gratitude after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/don-t-miss-work-and-never-be-late-your-boss-will-appreciate-it-and-he/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Elric offered Moonglum a smile that had gratitude in it. “You are—a good friend—I wonder why . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/elric-offered-moonglum-a-smile-that-had-gratitude-in-it-you-are-a/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [“Perhaps you will not be able completely to identify this presence and this continuous action going on within you unless it happens to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/perhaps-you-will-not-be-able-completely-to-identify-this-presence-and/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Language, a great poem in and of itself, is all around us. We live in the lap of enormous wonder, but how rarely do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edmundson/language-a-great-poem-in-and-of-itself-is-all-around-us-we-live-in/) [Mark Edmundson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edmundson/) > [Give bread to a stranger, in the name of the universal brotherhood which binds together all men under the common father of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/give-bread-to-a-stranger-in-the-name-of-the-universal-brotherhood/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [“From the outset, Protestantism rejected the critical medieval distinction between the 'sacred' and 'secular' orders. While this position can easily be interpreted as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/from-the-outset-protestantism-rejected-the-critical-medieval/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [This withdrawal of theology from the world of secular affairs is made more complete by the work of biblical scholars whose endlessly fascinating exercises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/this-withdrawal-of-theology-from-the-world-of-secular-affairs-is-made/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“..when you just sit in silence the wind blows through you, the sun shines in you and you realize you are not your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-krizzan/when-you-just-sit-in-silence-the-wind-blows-through-you-the-sun/) [Anita Krizzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-krizzan/) > [“Tony: Listen... I need to... Um... Say... I mean... I know we only met earlier... And I know I nearly set you on fire...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/tony-listen-i-need-to-um-say-i-mean-i-know-we-only-met-earlier-and-i/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [Some people are marching together and some on their own. Others are running, the smaller ones crawl. But some sit in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/some-people-are-marching-together-and-some-on-their-own-others-are/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“For a moment we sit in silence. Eventually, I turn to him and say, "Do you believe in God?" His eyes narrow for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-sparrow/for-a-moment-we-sit-in-silence-eventually-i-turn-to-him-and-say-do/) [Rebecca Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-sparrow/) > [“What’s the most frightening thing to a child? The pain of being the outsider, of looking ridiculous to others, of being teased or picked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/what-s-the-most-frightening-thing-to-a-child-the-pain-of-being-the/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“Beginning therapists must learn that there are times to sit in silence, sometimes in silent communion, sometimes simply while waiting for patients' thoughts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/beginning-therapists-must-learn-that-there-are-times-to-sit-in/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) ## More by Henri J.M. Nouwen > [“Spiritual reading, therefore, is slow, deliberate, meditative reading in which we allow the words to penetrate our heart and question our spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/spiritual-reading-therefore-is-slow-deliberate-meditative-reading-in/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/the-mystery-of-ministry-is-that-we-have-been-chosen-to-make-our-own/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Jesus changes our history from a random series of sad incidents and accidents into a constant opportunity for a change of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/jesus-changes-our-history-from-a-random-series-of-sad-incidents-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Why should a man marry and have children, study and build a career; why should he invent new techniques, build new institutions, and develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/why-should-a-man-marry-and-have-children-study-and-build-a-career-why/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“It wasn't that the Gospel proved useful for my many worries but that the Gospel proved the uselessness of my worries and so refocused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/it-wasn-t-that-the-gospel-proved-useful-for-my-many-worries-but-that/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“But mortification - literally, "making death" - is what life is all about, a slow discovery of the mortality of all that is created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/but-mortification-literally-making-death-is-what-life-is-all-about-a/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Christians should put survival of the planet ahead of national security...Here is the mystery of our global responsibility: that we are in communion with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/christians-should-put-survival-of-the-planet-ahead-of-national/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“We want to live as people chosen, blessed, and broken, and thus become food for the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/we-want-to-live-as-people-chosen-blessed-and-broken-and-thus-become/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Whereas discipline without discipleship leads to rigid formalism, discipleship without discipline ends in sentimental romanticism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/whereas-discipline-without-discipleship-leads-to-rigid-formalism/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“When God makes a covenant with us, God says: 'I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/when-god-makes-a-covenant-with-us-god-says-i-will-love-you-with-an/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Am I afraid to die? I am every time I let myself be seduced by the noisy voices of my world telling me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/am-i-afraid-to-die-i-am-every-time-i-let-myself-be-seduced-by-the/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Our life is a short time in expectation, a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other at every moment. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/our-life-is-a-short-time-in-expectation-a-time-in-which-sadness-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Here the mystery of drinking the cup becomes clear. The coming and leaving of friends, the experiences of love and betrayal, of care and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/here-the-mystery-of-drinking-the-cup-becomes-clear-the-coming-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Thus, our brokenness can become a gateway to new life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/thus-our-brokenness-can-become-a-gateway-to-new-life/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Addiction" might be the best word to explain the lostness that so deeply permeates society. Our addiction make us cling to what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/addiction-might-be-the-best-word-to-explain-the-lostness-that-so/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) [Explore all 115 Henri J.M. Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) ## More Caring quotes > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There is nothing about myself that I wouldn't reveal or write about. I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [A happy family needs a loving and caring father, and he who knows how to be a mother sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-happy-family-needs-a-loving-and-caring-father-and-he-who-knows-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Just remember that when nobody was there for you, I was. And when nobody else gave a damn, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-remember-that-when-nobody-was-there-for-you-i-was-and-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Hmmm! life zz about caring the life that u have as the rest of the things are of secondary value tc n ks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-life-zz-about-caring-the-life-that-u-have-as-the-rest-of-the/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved ,the rest is up to the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-make-someone-love-you-all-you-can-do-is-be-someone-who-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Browse all 2,651 Caring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and smile in gratitude, can feed many without even realizing it. 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