Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-23
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TRUE THANKSGIVING.
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| BY Rev. III. r. Cope.
The Lord Is good to all and His ten
der mercies are over all His works.
Ps. las, TX.
1t takes more than a holiday to make
people happy, more even than plenty OF
prosperity. The fields may yield boun-
tifully, the barns be filed to overflow
ing, the ledgers show large profits. and
all business bear the marks Of stability
and increase, and yet, even at the ia
bles laden with bounties, grim poverty
may sit, grinning, unbidden guest, IL
| gratitude be not there
With gratitude crust furnishes a
feast, while without 1t plenty is but
penury A mans wealth depends not
on what he has in his name. but on
what he appreciates, on the things that
give him happiness. The thankful
heart alone enters into complete posses
sion Gratitude is the art Of apprecia.
ton Days of thanksgiving convert
our prosperity from a mere catalogus
OF goods received to the consciousness
Of infinite blessings possessed.
Does a man think to himself, my own
energy and genius have enriched me,
why should render thanks to any? He
is as child who should think he gains
his education unaided. None of us can
live to himself. No amount of energy
could create a single grain of wheat.
Neither given the seed could any man
wholly unaided get living from the
soil. We are all dependents and al
ways debtors to untold multitudes of
our fellows. 1t is a short sighted re-
view that forgets them In the day of
praise
So also all life Is matter os part
nership with the Infinite To raise
corn a man must enter into co-opera-
ton with the forces that work In the
fields. He becomes a partner with God.
Yielding to the laws of the universe, he
enlfsts the aid of the unseen and I'M
searchable power that brings forth the
swelling bud and the upspringing blade,
that paints the bloom on the peach and
waves the silk on the rustling corn.
A little thought turns our seIf-gratu-
lation to thanksgiving. We see power
other than our own, a hand mfghtier
and mind wiser working through all
the seasons, with us and for us. BY
the good received we believe 1t is not
the hand Of blind fate; it is moved by
a kindly heart; his tender mercies are
over all His works. Thanksgiving is
the opportunity to read little mere
clearly In natures infinite book Of Sc
crecy the wonderful story Of the eter-
nal goodness and bounty.
TO some is given the harder task OF
rejoicing In affection, the privilege of
learning life's sweetest song in what is
to many an unknown tongue, the rich
language of sorrow. The song may
come mingled with sobs, and yet how
strong in deepened sympathy. Life may
have lost some of its possessions, but
IL has become richer in itself Grateful
for the clouds as well as for the clear
blue in the end it appears that our fair
est joys spring from our deepest disap-
pointments.
There is Always something to be
happy over. Life depends on it's outlook.
Gratitude takes the place OF gloom
when you look for goodness and mercy.
Life is full of sorrow to those who look
on all things with suspicion; it is a
sour affair to him who goes around
shifting at it, The thankful heart has
a way OF looking at single tiny patch
of blue in all the armament of black
ness until the blue and clear has over
spread all.
Gratitude for benefits received will
lead. to benefits shared. He who has
most may owe much to MIN who has
least The grateful cannot be greedy.
Our common interdependence means
mutual obligation. The tender mercies
Of all our Fathers works may well
teach us to set kindness, mercy, helpful
ness over all our works. No man inds
full Thanksgiving until he creates
thank fuIness in all his fellows.
The best thanksgiving is that which
lasts longest and frequently says. least
it abiies In the heart that shows its
appreciation of the good things of life
by passing them on. He gets most out
OF life who finds in it most things TO
make him glad that he lives. most
chances to share his joy and to cause
happy laughter TO echo about him. who
helps men TO rejoice in the goodness
ana gladness of the infinite lore for us
ALL
NOT YOUR OWN.
ny Rev, c. Sylvester Horne, A. NJ.
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