Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-01
Let us EnIoY our sIesslnas.

let Us ENJOY OuF otSsSHso'
LET Us then enjoy our blessings
As they lie along our path
Let US keep the wheat and roses
Casting out the thorns and chan.
IN our absorption and care-taSing ano
continual hrooding over the difnculties
that are about US we are prone 70 over
look the benefits and blessings that lie
along our path in life. Like Bunyan's
poor toIler. Nho kept his gaze down. fixed
on hts muck rake. we fail 20 appreciate
the sunshine and gladness that comes 20
almost every life. II we are observant OF
our blessings
read a pretty little story the other day
cf q poor Scotch woman. whose son en-
listed IN the British, army and was sta
tioned In far away india
The thrifty old woman did very well un-
IN sickness overlook her, and then II was
hard 10 straiEhten up IN her frugal busi-
ness afterwards.
Finally she went 20 her pastor and told
him thar the oatcake was very thin and
the supply very scant. and although she
had rather die than SO 70 the poor house
she was. all the same. weak from illness,
hunger and want.
The conslderate minister asked II she
had no kinspeople who would care for her.
and was told. nobody. but the soldier
laddie"
.'Does he never write TO his old moth
err. he inquired
"oh. yes" she replied. He writes every
few months and sends me some pretty pic
ture papers
The pastor went over 70 see the old lady
IN her matched cottage. and she brought
out JAMES letters and the pictures.
which were all Bank OF England notes,
and which amounted 10 considerable
rrsr~ a. NNa
Whenever the soldier laddie drew his
pay he sent his old mother some Of his
money. and after her picture papers were
understood BY the aged mother. her heart
vas full Of Joy because OF her sons kind
ness 20 her. and her wants were all re-
lieved.
with an abundance OF means in her pos
session she was suffering for the very
necessaries Of life. and had she passed
away before the picture papers were ex-
planned to her she would have gone TO her
grave feeling sore at the neglect Of her
only child, as well as a victim to her own
ignorance Of the blessings about her,
within her own grasp.
People do not. as a rule. ever fully ap-
preciate their daily blessings until they
are deprived OF them. Some great shock
Of Bereavement or loss OF disappointment
brings out In clear light their own lack Of
proper appreciation and their lack Of
gratitude for daily mercies-
But the spirit OF appreciation Is one that
can be cultivated and broadened by com
parisOn with the adverse conditions Of
others. Nothing Is more helpful than TO
visit the sick and afflicted and make a
comparison OF conditions. The wise man
vas truly wise when he said IL was better
for visitor 20 so 20 the home OF mourn
Ing than 10 the home Of the giddy mirth
seeker. simply because IL would awaken
in the visitors mind and heart the con-
rentment which would come from the COM
parison Of other and adverse conditions
with their own comfort and happiness.
Our American life is truly a strenuous
one. because the world OF business and So
ciety keeps in a continual and upward
striving after something still ahead and
too often the solid comforts OF peace and
contentment are out Of sight like the old
Scotchwoman's pretty pictures; simply be-
cause We do not look around US to dis
cover them.
Strange we never prize the music
Til the sweet-voiced bird has flown.
Strange we never prize the viOlets
TIL the lovely flowers are gone"