Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-12-22

a. " IN ner trouDie,
and was this to
be her encouragement and help?
Give thanks always for all things"
How could she? Yes, she was thank
fillmore than she could tell-for her
Saviour She was thankful that He
had led her out Of the darkness and
superstition and sin which surround
ed her into the light and love OF His
Gospel. Her heart was brave 10 go
forward. What though II had cost her
persecution at home, the loss OF
friends, the sacrifice OF all that
young and beautiful girl just enter
ing upon womanhood would hold dear.
she would not turn back; she would
not give up her faith in Jesus. But
to be thankful for all that had be
fallen her, TO be thankful that the
doors OF her home which should have
sheltered and protected her were shut
against her-for that very night her
mother as she bowed before the shrine
of the goddess Diana set up in their
home had called down the wrath OF
the goddess upon her because she
would not renounce her new faith and
bow before the image as she had been
taught to DO and then her mother had
told her that if she Went again to
the meeting of the hated disciples Of
Jesus she neei never return, that she
would be an outcast from that time
forth Could she be thankful for this?
Could she be thankful that Pythodorus
her lover, a man of much nobility
of character whom she still loved
with all the ardor and devotion Of ar
enduring affection, had after argument,
and pleading. and even weeping
pushed her from him and left her In
anger saying that she should see his
face no more?
The reading has ended and with the
rest she bowed while the simple
earnest, direct prayer was offered and
the benediction was pronounced over
their heads Then as the disciples
gathered in groups and talked with
one another concerning Gods word
sent them By the Appetite Paul. Matilda
crept timidly to the side of Tychicus
and with quiyerng voice asked: i.
Teacher. what meaneth the Apostle
when he urges us TO give thanks al
ways for all things unto God?'"
What IL il. my sister? What
troubleth thea?" he said. as he looked
into her perplexed face.
How can one be thankful for all
things?" and as the tears welled In
her eyes she lifted The fold of her
loose-fitting robe to wipe them away
and then bowling her head upon he.
arm she broke down completely
Tychicus waited patiently until her
grief had subsidized, and then said:
Ny sister, what profit IS Il If We
are thankful for only those thing
which favor us and which we wei
iome? IRE we came 70 know Jesus We
thought that tie gods we're the be
showers OF all that was good or H.
and when evil overlook us and mis-
fortune came we besought the fayO-
Of the god that their wrath righi
be turned from US, but now that We
have come to know Jesus and through
Him the true God. His Father ana or
Father as we are in Him. we have
learned that all things are in His c9n-
tr,l, and naught OF good or i'll be
falleth us save that which He wills.
Yea. know we cannot understand.
but is II not enough to know that He
understands"
But teacher. can we be thankful
that evil prevails ana seems trium-
plant? Can | give thanks that moth
er and father believe not in my God;
that from henceforth the doors OF my
home are shut against me: that-that
Pythodorus has turned from my side
and still clings to Diana and her
beautiful temple?" and at the mention
OF her lovers name. spoken softly. a
blush suffused her face.
Nay, my sister, thy thought Is in
error We are not 10 give thanks for
the evil itself, for the unbelief OF moth
sr and father, and friends, but rather
that I'm spite OF the evil. and the UNI
belief. God rules and overrules that
His purposes may be wrought out, and
honor and glory brought TO His blessed
name through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Seest thou not the truth which Paul
would have your heart possess BE
thankful always for all things with
a thankfulness which reaches beyond
the condition OF the thing that sur
rounds you and brings you into Gods
presence. where the sweet conscious
ness that He knows and understands
and doeth all things well may give
birth to the real and abiding thanks
giving that knows no end"