Dear Gloria,
in http://www.heavenletters.org/keep-the-peace.html
parag. 4 from the end:
"If you live in havoc, what are you giving to the world? And what are you giving to those whose havoc you may accept into your life?
I have never advised you to give a pound of flesh. I have never advised you to undercut yourself for the idea of an image of yourself you insist you must reflect. Truly, dear ones, you are not being unselfish when you let your life become disruptive."
I know that "to give a pound of flesh" comes from Shakespeare (The Merchant of Venice). In this context is God saying that He is not asking from you to give a pound of flesh or is it that we don't let the other ask you for a pound of flesh?
And in 2nd from last parag.:
""On one hand you give, and in another, you take. You may take away from others their ability to fend for themselves. Certainly, you help no one when you fly off the handle."
I understand that "to fly off the handle" means to react in a very angry way, to lose one's temper. But I don't connect clearly that last sentence with the two preceeding ones.
Ah those idioms! (Yet I like them in french!)
Thanks