--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is for us to begin. If we take one…" description: "\"It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the Lord, he takes ten towards us -- he who saw the prodigal son while he was at a distance, and had..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/tito-colliander-18122_begin_it-is-for-us-to-begin-if-we-take-one-ste_390006.jpg" --- # It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the… ![“It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the Lord, he takes ten towards us -- he who saw the prodigal son while he was at a distance, and had compassion and ran and embraced him.” quote by Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/tito-colliander-18122_begin_it-is-for-us-to-begin-if-we-take-one-ste_390006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/tito-colliander-18122_begin_it-is-for-us-to-begin-if-we-take-one-ste_390006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/tito-colliander-18122_begin_it-is-for-us-to-begin-if-we-take-one-ste_390006.jpg) > “It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the Lord, he takes ten towards us -- he who saw the prodigal son while he was at a distance, and had compassion and ran and embraced him.” [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking a small step toward faith invites greater divine response and compassion **In simple terms:** Faithful steps draw God's greater love Key Takeaway Begin with a humble step toward the divine Themes faith compassion divine reciprocity Mood hopeful reverent Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - community outreach - mission work Key Concepts spiritual reciprocity grace Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal initiative with trust in God? - What small act of faith can you take today? A Different Perspective May become over-reliant on divine aid without personal effort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin/) [Begin Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-step-584392/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Embraced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embraced/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Prodigal son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigal-son/) [Prodigals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigals/) [Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran/) [Ran Embraced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran-embraced-3520631/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) ## Related quotes > [“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/and-he-arose-and-came-to-his-father-but-while-he-was-still-a-long-way/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [Begin with the possible: begin with one step. There is always a limit you cannot do more than you can do. If you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/begin-with-the-possible-begin-with-one-step-there-is-always-a-limit/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [There is a trend today that would put a new robe on the prodigal son while he is still feeding hogs. Some would put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-is-a-trend-today-that-would-put-a-new-robe-on-the-prodigal-son/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-difference-between-mercy-and-grace-mercy-gave-the-prodigal-son-a/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I do not believe we can truly enter into our own inner pain and wounds and open our hearts to others unless we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/i-do-not-believe-we-can-truly-enter-into-our-own-inner-pain-and/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The parable of the prodigal son, the most beautiful fiction that ever was invented; our Saviour's speech to His disciples, with which He closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-parable-of-the-prodigal-son-the-most-beautiful-fiction-that-ever/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [One of the hardest things in the world is to stop being the prodigal son without turning into the elder brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-is-to-stop-being-the-prodigal/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [To my way of thinking, the concept drawings that Rembrandt did, the drawings he made that he used to model his artists, to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/to-my-way-of-thinking-the-concept-drawings-that-rembrandt-did-the/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [My writing has developed drastically . The Return of the Prodigal Son is the most important thing I've done, and my most mature book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/my-writing-has-developed-drastically-the-return-of-the-prodigal-son/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The Prodigal Son story is, I think, the greatest short-story ever written. It has such drama in it, such great characters, it's so clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-prodigal-son-story-is-i-think-the-greatest-short-story-ever/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Jesus disclosed that God is compassionate. Jesus spoke of God that way: "Be compassionate, as God is compassionate." Compassion is the primary quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-borg/jesus-disclosed-that-god-is-compassionate-jesus-spoke-of-god-that-way/) [Marcus Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-borg/) > [“There are men regarded today as brilliant economists, who deprecate saving and recommend squandering on a national scale as the way of economic salvation;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/there-are-men-regarded-today-as-brilliant-economists-who-deprecate/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [In Prodigal Son, Christine Sutton has penned a tight, brutally honest portrait of a psychopath reminiscent of Theodore Sturgeon's 'Some of Your Blood'. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/in-prodigal-son-christine-sutton-has-penned-a-tight-brutally-honest/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [I never understood redemption when I was young. Even before I was an atheist, I always thought with the prodigal son, "well, why's he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-never-understood-redemption-when-i-was-young-even-before-i-was-an/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I'm a prodigal son. The black sheep of a white flock. I shall die on the gallows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-drake/i-m-a-prodigal-son-the-black-sheep-of-a-white-flock-i-shall-die-on/) [William A. Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-drake/) ## More by Tito Colliander > [There are three kinds of nature in man, as Nicetas Stethatos further explains: the carnal man, who wants to live for his own pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/there-are-three-kinds-of-nature-in-man-as-nicetas-stethatos-further/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [You must learn to follow privately the Lord's bidding: not to speak empty words, not to adorn yourself, always to obey authority, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/you-must-learn-to-follow-privately-the-lord-s-bidding-not-to-speak/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [He has made peace with himself, as Isaac the Syrian says, and heaven and earth have made peace with him. He is gathering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/he-has-made-peace-with-himself-as-isaac-the-syrian-says-and-heaven/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Say nothing of the new life you have begun or of the experiment you are making and experiences you expect to have. All this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/say-nothing-of-the-new-life-you-have-begun-or-of-the-experiment-you/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [It begins here, and has no end, and no earthly power can coerce it; and it is to be found in the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/it-begins-here-and-has-no-end-and-no-earthly-power-can-coerce-it-and/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [We notice the person who is for ever bowing and fussily servile, and perhaps say, How humble he is! But the truly humble person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/we-notice-the-person-who-is-for-ever-bowing-and-fussily-servile-and/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Thus you are led from moment to moment in your halter of preoccupation with self, and kindled instantly to displeasure, impatience or anger if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/thus-you-are-led-from-moment-to-moment-in-your-halter-of/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Faith comes not through pondering but through action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/faith-comes-not-through-pondering-but-through-action/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Instinct seeks satisfaction. Love is free of all demands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/instinct-seeks-satisfaction-love-is-free-of-all-demands/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Cast off the burden of sin and you will find within you the upward path that will make your ascent possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/cast-off-the-burden-of-sin-and-you-will-find-within-you-the-upward/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Through practice he has accustomed himself to wish for nothing, and for a person with no wishes, everything goes just as he wishes, explains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/through-practice-he-has-accustomed-himself-to-wish-for-nothing-and/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [As soon as you direct such a question outward to your fellow man and not inward to yourself, you have set yourself on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/as-soon-as-you-direct-such-a-question-outward-to-your-fellow-man-and/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [If you were not full of self-pity you would soon observe that we ourselves are to blame for all this evil, because we refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/if-you-were-not-full-of-self-pity-you-would-soon-observe-that-we/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [Remember: there is no place, no community, no external circumstance that is not serviceable for the battle you have chosen. The exception is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/remember-there-is-no-place-no-community-no-external-circumstance-that/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [This obstinate will to personal happiness is the cause of unrest and division in your soul. Give it up and work against it: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/this-obstinate-will-to-personal-happiness-is-the-cause-of-unrest-and/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) [Explore all 22 Tito Colliander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) ## More Begin quotes > [If you wanted to put the world to rights, who should you begin with: yourself or others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-you-wanted-to-put-the-world-to-rights-who-should-you-begin-with/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“Let the motherfucking games begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/let-the-motherfucking-games-begin/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/begin-as-you-mean-to-go-on-and-go-on-as-you-began-and-let-the-lord-be/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [The world will only begin to have faith in you when you do too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-world-will-only-begin-to-have-faith-in-you-when-you-do-too/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The idea with a collection is sort of to begin with a kind of bang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/the-idea-with-a-collection-is-sort-of-to-begin-with-a-kind-of-bang/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. People who are gentle, humble and able always have a great ending no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/humble-yourself-before-the-lord-and-he-will-lift-you-high-people-who/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/i-don-t-know-the-future-i-didn-t-come-here-to-tell-you-how-this-is/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) > [The public should begin to understand that there's nothing that comes out of this campaign, or this Obama White House, that they can believe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/the-public-should-begin-to-understand-that-there-s-nothing-that-comes/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [“A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/a-mother-is-always-the-beginning-she-is-how-things-begin/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I look forward to the day that a lot of the folks that you all talk about and cover on this network will begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-look-forward-to-the-day-that-a-lot-of-the-folks-that-you-all-talk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...I'd be interested in any tips you have for somebody starting out.” “Uh-huh,” I said, looking out the window. I decided, as we drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/i-d-be-interested-in-any-tips-you-have-for-somebody-starting-out-uh/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [Begin where you are. Read every word, every phrase, every paragraph of the mind, as it operates through thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/begin-where-you-are-read-every-word-every-phrase-every-paragraph-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) [Browse all 1,199 Begin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is for us to begin. 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