The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-11
The Bright Side of Things.

A merry heart is a good medicine.
Proverbs, 1922.
A noted lawyer when asked the
secret of his success, replied: Il al
ways tried to make people believe /
was in deadly earnest. I would look
and act as though the other side had
not the slightest chance to controvert
my arguments. In a word, l did my.
best to create an atmosphere that
would be the means Of helping me
win my suit"
This answer has a profound truth
in it. 1t was the deliberate action
of a man Of the world to bring about
the success of his own ends. 1t was
the result Of an entirely selfish mo-
tive to effect ones own aggrandize-
ment.
And yet the explanation can touch
us who acknowledge the supremacy
Of Christ very deeply; for truly the
children of this world are in their
generation wiser than the children OF
light. The successful lawyer always
tried to create an atmosphere in
order to make an impression for pure
ly selfish ends; the Christian, the fol-
lower Of the Master, ought also to
strive to create an atmosphere by
carrying the spirit Of the Lord Jesus
Christ around with. him, to upbuild
the kingdom Of God among men and
advance the cause Of his Saviour
among the nations of the earth.
A simple, buoyant, merry, trustful
disposition will do more good in the
world than tons of sermons, wagon
loads of supercilious criticisms, car
loads of biting and sarcastic COM
ments. No one but God knows how
far the influence Of one personality
reaches in this world. We shall never
realize until the day Of judgment how
much we have damned or. blessed our
fellow men. Therefore, 1t is OF vast
Importance that we carry around with
us an atmosphere of health, not dis
ease; Of light, not darkness; Of life,
not death.
How can men and women secure a
merry heart, a cheerful disposition, a
sun illumined soul? Well, to begin
with, we must have faith in God.
This lies at the root of all our think
ing. We cannot face life bravely and
unshrinkingly without belief in Prov
ldence. ITO see life steadily and to
see it whole" we must have some
conception Of a power outside our
selves, that guards US, guides us n
protects Us.
If we have faith in God, a strong
conviction that there is a heavenly
Father who knows and cares for His
children, then the next ingredient
for a merry heart Is to work-to lose
ones self in some enterprise, to labor
early and late for the accomplish
ment of some great end, to be a crea-
tor in a small way and thus be like
God, who made the universe.
What will be the gain OF a merry,
heart? The Bible says it will be as
good medicine. That is to say, 1t will
enable a man to look on the bright
side of things, and surely this will be
Of the very highest benefit. We have
been placed here by a great Being to
do q certain special work-a Work
that can be done by no n else but
by us to whom it has been intrusted.
Therefore, anything and everything
that will ascist a Christian in his life
work is a gain and an advantage; and
most truly a merry heart is a good
medicine, a brave determination to
look on the bright side of things will
make a man a blessing, not a curse to
his fellow men.-Rev. George Down
ing Sparks, Rector of Christ Church,
| West Islip, in the New York Herald.