The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1893-01-07
Reflections for Family Reading.
JdRudru lSt,

Viewed rightly, we might appro
prately consider it, in one sense. the
first day of our lives We have the
privilege of looking forward from it
for repetition OF the myriad bless
ings which have been shoWered upon
US by Providence in the years gone
by. Our present condition-althOug
possibly not such as we might desire,
is such that we should be satisfied
with, or if not entirely SO, it is such as
should inspire US with gratitude, and
prompt us to improve our facilities.
January 2nd.
We have bleak winds, and dreary
weather. The sky is hidden from our
view. The earth is hardened by the
icy grasp of the cold which is common
at this season, but after all, is there
not IA compensating Providence in all
of it Let us look meditatively upon
the works of our Creator, aud it will
be found that we can never find occa-
sion to arraign his wisdom in Aail the
different phases of nature. Our eli
mate is mild, and we live in land of
civilization, which we can render more
charming by attention to the teachings
oI SBI tSlIdbll1 w Htu we IclIeCB tII
how very many of our race, are ex-
posed to the severe rigor of northern
winters who have not comfortable raj
ment, nor houses to shelter them from
inclenaent blasts-we find ample rea-
Sons for gratitude that we are as we'll
provided for as we are.
January 3d.
Not to acknowledge the greatness
and goodness of God, in the least of
his innumerable works, as we'll as in
those of the greatest magnitude, is a
betrayal of our ignorance and a dere-
liction of duty. The formation of the
volvox and the molecuIe is even to our
comprehension more wonderful than
the formation of the anima! creations
with which the earth abounds. That
we live at all. knowing how little we
understand of the causes of life, is
quite enough to teach US how entirely
dependent we aPe, on the power, wis
dom and goodness of God By the
simple exercise of His will, the
thread of life would be broken, and
nothing we can do could possibly save
us from immediate death. Let us rec
oguize this fact, and act with view to
our helpless condition, unaided by
Him who sees the sparrow fall and
hears the ravgn's cry.
January 4th.
Taking the world as we find it, the
severe cold that we sometimes have to
pass tlrough-all of which are neces-
sary and wise alterations in Gods
government of the physical world
what would now be our condition, if,
to meet all these, fire had not been
given us by an all wise Providence
We find it not only necessary to our
protection from the cold, but an in1is-
pensable agent in the arts. We find
the principle of it diffused through
water as we'll as through air and all
oleaginous substances. It supplies MS
with artificial lights, by which the
long, cold and dark nights of winter
are made cheerful to US, and by which
we are enabled TO scan over our books
and indulge in other rational enjoy
ments. In short fire is blessing, the
full importance of which we are not
apt to think of or appreciate.
January 5th.
What We ordinarily call pleasure, is
not the real business of our lives. We
often think that enjoyment is mis-
named pleasure, and, indeed, see many
instances of it, as we pass along
through society and mingle in the
tlrongs of men. Pleasure is, in the
poper sense, that which should occu-
py our thoughts and direct our
4 efforts. There is pleasure in
doing good, whatever it may con-
Germ and there Is an everlasting
pleasure in practical religion There
are what may be appropriately styled
needless pleasures, the indulgence in
which often disturbs our friends, our
parents, but they certainly do not llar-
monize with such as co-exist with the
general makeup of enjoyment. If
this could always be uppermost in our
minds, when ''Ranting round in pleas
ares' ring fewer stings would be left
in our hearts to tester after such
amusements are ended.
January 9Th
See the wonderful care which God
manifests over the animal creation.
Man, to great extent, is able to make
provision for his comforts and necessi-
ties. Such is not the case with the
brute creation. Animals, so-called,
can erect no edifces to shelter them
from the inclemency of the weather
They know not to kindIe O fire to
counteract the effects of cold upon
them. IF God had left them unpro-
vided for, it would have been almost
impossible for them to survive in ex-
treme northern climates. They could
not provide the food necessary to their
existence. They know nothing of the
science of land culture, and, therefore,
are forced to rely on the foresight and
management of man, or on the merci-
fnl provisions of generous Nature. But
we see that God, in creating all the
species of animals, has made provision
for their wants. Unlike man, animals
are never known to want that which
|, they do not to some extent need. Not
so with man he acants many things he
does not really need, and it is some
times equally true that he really
needs that which he does not want.
Providence nsas covered the earth with
! spontaneous herbs, for the snstenance
! of some animals, and has made provis-
ion for all others of his creation. So
that left to themselves in q state of
. nature, there is enough for all. Here
; we find wonderful prescienee and
goodness, because tender care ls ex-
tended 10 every living creature.
81 January 7th.
4 tn aaun.s yinteF anneara tn ha % ith