The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-28
COMMON MERCiES.

Why They Are SO Liable to BE Unacknowl-
edged and Unappreciatcd.
The common mercies of our daily
life are apt. think, by reason of that
very quality, because they are so CON-
mon and familiar, to be unacknowl-
edged and unappreciated. They do not
announce themselves. when they enter
INTO our experience, as special interpo-
sitions of the Divine love and care.
They seem to belong to our very being
as much as any of our natural appetites
and adaptations, and so do not summon
us to any emphatic Thanksgiving.
Take the word just written, "appe-
tite:" what mercy is this common
relish for food. this qrickening of our
step thrice day toward the bounties
of the table, and yet how seldom it is
made theme of praise! But bring in
state of health that repels these table
bountes. and we begin to perceive
what a mercy we have possessed with
such insensibilty.
The sleep Of night-how seldom it
inspires our gratitude when the day re-
turns! OF course we expect 10 sleep
through the hours of darkness We lay
our heads on the pillow on purpose to
| lose ourselves in slumher. This issue.
then. is nothing to excite thankful
surprise. But bring upon us some state
| of the nerves, some diSquieting sensa-
ton that forbids the closing of our eye
lids from sun to sun. and We discern
something of the preciousness of this
common mercy of nightly rest.
The comfortable use of our limbs in
walking or labOring does not SO much
as attract our attention. But give us a
wound, or a strain. a rheumatic attack
with one of those diligent servants, and
we see how Indispensable they are to
our daily tasking, and how great the
kindness that keeps them girded for
action.
| We open our eyes upon landscape. or
page. or occupation, with no glance up
ward of grateful blessing. But let
some tiny shaft penetrate one of these
| orbs of vision, or some fretful mote
settle there, and we begin to feel to
what a mercy we have been blind.
In our moments of thirst we swallow
a draught OF water without acknowl.
edging or invoking the favor of the
Giver. But in desert journey let that
supply be suspended, Or. as we drink
in our ordinary condition, let a drop
enter the windpipe, missing its way.
and we see what mercy there may be
in such triiling dispensation.
So it is with us ia going and coming
in the vehicles of public travel. in rid
! ing or driving our own steeds over the
/ pleasant highway, in crossing bay or
river on strong and swift keels, in the
Erospering OF our days work with skill
and dispatch, in uuobstructed hearing
and speech in social intercourse. in the
clearness and force of our brain in all
the problems of skill and study, and in
the manifold functions of our whole
j complete manhood. Unqualified COM
fort and success are SO common with us
that we bend no knee in worship. and
sing no song of grateful acknowledge
ment. We do not seem to know how
great our debt for such constant favors
is until some breach occurs in their reg
ularity and continuity
o. that our insensibility TO this largest
breadth of daily blessings were re-
moved and succeeded by quick and
thankful and loving appreciation of
such Heavenly favor. Il. l.. Stone,
IN Pacific,