Stone is much harder, much tougher than water.  Yet the gently flowing water of a stream or river wears down the sharp edges of the rocks over time.  In a few decades, or maybe centuries, those rough rocks become smooth, rounded river rocks.  
     The way the water deals with rocks is the same way spiritual people should deal with rough, sharp, difficult people.  With tolerance, understanding and patience, we show them love and forgiveness and eventually the sharp edges disappear and they become humble, tolerant and smooth like the river rocks.

An interesting case of synchronicity occurred with this story.  Sometimes, things I see on TV or hear on the radio inspire an article.  In this case, the river rock analogy just came to me, but a few hours after I wrote this, I sat down to watch TV and I turned to HGTV and watched Color Splash where David Bromstad was decorating a mountain cabin with river rock.