Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-12-07

thermore, God does not limit us IN the
sense that our mothers had to limit us,
because their incomes were meacer and
the outgoes taxed all their resources.
God comes to us IN the same way as
Alexander the Great came to his office
one day and said, Make me any re-
quest, and IL it is possible | viii grant
it." So God says. Whatsoever We
shall ask fin my name for the blessed
Christmas time in memory of my I'M
speakable gift, that will / do" oh.
is not this a blessed offer? Let US try
to enumerate some of the Christmas re-
quests we ought 10 make TO God, which
he can and will satisfy if we only
come TO him In the right Christmas
spirit.
The first Christmas request that !
should like to ask from God is that /
might have the simple faith of my
childhood. By that do not mean SIM
ply the faith with which L could trust
my father and mother and my God, but
also the simple faith with which 1 can
learn to trust my brother and sisters
and all those with whom 1 am associ-
ated In life. All, that should mean
much to you and me, for of all unhap-
py and miserable natures 1 think one
or the most miserable Is what we call
the suspicious nature. 1T Is that awful
characteristic which is always hunting
for the faults and deceits rather than
for the virtues of others.
Some time ago l saw a picture emit
tied The Suspicious Man." William
Hogarth, the English caricaturfst.
could not have depicted disturbing sus-
picion in n more powerful way. There
was mans face with curling LID of
scorn. His eye had a doubter's look,
bis arms were raised in an attitude of
| rebuke and protest. while to the right
of the picture stretched forth simply
an open hand, which in mute appeal
seemed to say: Brother, come and
trust me, and l will help you. Let us
be friends" NAY, nay" seemed to
say that curling lip. Il will trust no
one, not even thee All, that picture
of the suspicious man is the photo
graph of many here today We have
been lied about; we have been cheated;
we have had our loving condolences be-
trayed. The result is we think the
whole human flock bad because q few
of the sheep are black. We distrust all
people because few have proved false
to their profession. Now, / pray God
that Mt the coming Christmas l may
have my faith in mankind re-estab-
hshed and my faith in humanity re-
newed. l would also have my faith in
Gods love and goodness verified.
Enifh I'm ManlxivJ
And why should we not make this
Christmas request OF God? Do not
faith In God and faith in man go hand
in hand? Are not the goodness and
kindness of man manifest on every
hand? Did the spirit of honesty and
love and self sacrifice pass away when
your mother died? Are not your sis
tiers and brothers doing for their chill
dren exactly what your parents once
did for you? ! believe the reason we
take such n depressed view of the hu-
man race today is not because all peo-
pie are bad. We simply refuse to open
our eyes and see the good qualities OF
people who are everywhere around us.
Satan has placed n binding cataract
over our eyes. May we be able to
make the prayer today which poor
Bartimaeus made many years ago.
''Thou son of David, have mercy" and
when Christ said unto him. what wilt
thou that 1 should do unto theeT' the
blind man answered. Lord, that
might receive my sight" Thus may
we make request for this coming
Christmas. May we say, Lord, open
our eyes that we may see thy good
ness as well ms the goodness OF our
fellow men" oh, how happy the next
Christmas would be il we could only
see the good in mankind rather than
the faults OF our brothers and slstersl
A merry. merry Christmas truly would
then be our next Christmas holiday.
But next to faith in God and faith in
our fellow men there is another desire
tugging ut my heart. That Is to make
something out OF my own life. And
when ] speak thus l am making n
Christmas request inspired by pure
ly selfish motive. | am not coming to
God and saying, 20 God, make me a
great man IN order that other men may
fall down upon their knees and wor-
ship mel" but am saying. 20 God,
let me fill Il position OF usefulness in
order that I may be OF service TO my
fellow men and help them on in the
struggle OF lifer' That is a just and
a, holy request TO make OF Jesus for
coming Christmas present
Let me illustrate by simple story.
1 am young man. I have a wealthy
father. who Is great merchant. / go
TO that parent and say, Father, give
me some money that ] may live and
support my wife and children" Then
the father gives to me ten, fifty. a hun
dred thousand dollars. You say that is
noble request. ] do not think so.
That Is the request of the loafer, the
idler, the good for nothing deadbeat.
But IL go to my father and say, ga
Their, do not give me money, but give
me position where can earn honest
wages and give full return in labor
for the money that I receive" then
call that noble request. The soldier
who returns from the war when he is
disabled may feel grateful to the king
who gives him a pension to support
him during his years of helplessness.
but the soldier who is strong physical
] ~ ought not to want a pension. He
should be glad to have had the oppor-
tunity to go forth to fight the battles
OF his country and his king So the
strong Christian should not desire from
his God place or ease, but place of
labor. Today, for this coming Christ
mas, cannot we say to God: 30 God,
give to me place OF active service.
Give to me a place to labor in thy
kingdom" This is not a foolish re-
quest to make.