The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-15
RELIGIOUS READING.
CERTAIN MISTAKES OF DEVOTION.

Let me explain that devotion to ones dear
ones. not devotion to ones Fatherin heaven,
Is the theme Of this bit of talk. In the lat
ter case few Of US make mistakes, since
most of US, unhappily. fail Of rendering that
perfect sacrifice OF self to God in desire, in
will and In act which is "our reasonable ser
vice." 1t is the greatest comfort to me, and
am sure 1t Is to you. dear friend for whom
I am writing, that ''He knoweth our frame,
He remembereth that we are DUST" ard that
"like as father pitieth his children, so the
Lord pitieth them that fear Him."
But in our very love for our blessed home
darlings We are apt to make vital mistakes.
Said sweet young mother the other day,
~ allowed Gerald to stay at homo from
school this morning because he cried when
it was time to go, and thought OF those
dreadful car tracks he had to cross and fam
cied some accident might happen II I in
sisted on his going, and In that case could
never have forgiven myself" AS the little
fellow was perfectly well and quite able to
60 to school, and probably only suffering
from one Of those reactionary moods which
come to children as well as grown people,
the mother made mistake. Another time
he would resort to the same argument with
greater faith In Its potency, and an opportu-
nifty for strengthening him in manly resist
ance to the temptation to inertia was gone
forever.
Il did not sleep last night until Claude
came home,' confessed sister, who had no
| special responsibility about the brother who
| part OF the town. "Those good government
clubs are given to holding assemblages in
| queer places" she went on, land make 1t
| point to keep awake till 1 hear Claude's
| latch-key."
'Do you speak to him then and let him
| know Of your vigil2" was asked.
"Oh, mol 1t would trouble him II he were
aware that was losing my rest. He knows
I need my nights sleep. But am given to
worrying over those whom love"
| So are many dear women given to useless
! and fruitless worrying. which never yet did
one particle OF good, either to the person
who does 1t or to the person in whose behalf
II Is done. We may work and we may pray
for our beloved, but we may not worry
about them If we have common sense
and Christian principle to guide
US in our daily conduct. The young man /!
not annealed against evil nor armed against
peril, nor brought home an instant earlier
because his sister tosses on an uneasy pill
low on his account. Among the most un
fortunate mistakes of devotion to ones fam
| lily Is this chronic habit Of worrying,to which
some affectionate women are victims.
Another equally to be regretted mistake o.
devotion Is rooted in the love Of mothers fo
daughters-a love, which, in some cases
shields the younger from every care and &C
J cepts every burden, till the elder breaks
! down beneath the strain and the load. ON
would expect the girls to be more clear
sighted than they sometimes are; one woult
think that they would see what Is plaiI
enough to other eyes but custom Is stront
and when mothers begin with their littl
ones and never learn when to drop, or how
to drop, even an end Of the heavy weight o
care and work, the daughters grow up &C
cepting self-denials and enjoying ease with
out single question till it Is too late, ant
they waken to what they have done whel
there is no mother to comfort them.
The mistakes of love are legion. Is ther
not room here for little self examination
Is not self love occasionally dominant, whel
1t seems that altruism is the only motive
May not devotion be weak in its qualification
| OF the impulse to immolation2 Ought VI
not always and consistently to consider
the best good Of our dear ones2 And, whel
! all Is said, shall we not for them, as for our
selves, gain the highest rewards by subordi
mating our whole lives, including all o
theirs which blends with ours, to that high
est love which lays its all at the foot OF tn
Cross?