Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-10-25

solsce and gospel comfort I'm the les
sons we have taught them In the Quie-
tude OF the nursery and In the inspired
truths they have learned at the family
altar
But there is another weighty lesson
TO be learned frv.n the scene OF my
text. The easiest way 20 overcome the
tidal waves OF trouble Is by Harvesting
ourselves up TO work. Inactivity and
inertia are sympathlzing attendants
who are only too willing to sit by the
bedside of heartrending grief and
weep with us when we weep ANA talk
over with us the sickening -.''ivS
of the past. But their chief miss iO;l H.
not to heal the wounds OF life ar TO
stop the hemorrhages or bleediuS
hearts. They only take the bandages
Off the pain racking wounds and start
the bleeding afresh. The best way %
fight grief is TO go forth in a manly.
Christian way and lift our cross and
silently carry our burden along and
not stop to make complete inventory
Of our misfortunes. Peter knew this
truth, as every brave man ought to
know 1t.
Back TO Daily Duties.
Cannot you hear him say to the 9TH
er disciples: "NIen, what is the use OF
our sitting here and nursing our griefl
BY dwelling on the scenes OF the past
can we lessen one iota any OF our
sorrcws? Would Jesus want US to sit
around idle like thisl We cannot bring
him back TO us. Like David with his
dead boy, we can 60 to him, but he
cannot come to rs. Have we no daily
duties to PERFORM Have we no hum
CRY mouths TO hll7 Are not our wives
and children dependent upon us for
food7 II Jesus does not want me to
follow him and preach, at least he
wants me to be an honest man and
provide a home for my family. used
to earn their living by fisherman's
net. l can earn them bread by selling
fish again. / so a-fshing." Then the
other disciples said, 1--WE also go with
thee" Yes, the sad fact is that many
people do not fight the sorrows OF life
by the activities of life. Like Job OF
old, they nurse their grief by tearing
their garments and by weeping and
Here. for instance. is n wife and
mother who has been blessed with as
noble n family as God ever gave to a
home. From the morning when the
sweet throated songstress called love
sang amid the bowers of the orange
blossoms the sunshine of Joy has al
ways been flooding her life. Her life,
like humming bird, has winged its
way from flower to flower The sting
ing nettles and the hard, stony path
ways were for others. Only the rest
ful, tender symphonies of a happy life
sounded their music in her heart. But
one day the shadow OF the broad wing
ed messenger OF death passed over her
head. Now, as before. there are seven
places at her family table, but one OF
the baby chairs is vacant Does that
mother always arise in the morning
with a sweet smile upon her lips and
take up her duties OF life cheerfully
Does she help her husband bear his
grief? With noble Christian resig-
nation, does she thank God that she
has still four babies left? Does she
live to make chem happy? Or does
she sit down and nurse her grief ;
Are her cheeks being continually
splashed by the fountains of her tears
Does she put away all her bright
clothes and advertise her sorrow by
repulsive Grape? Does she go forth
with a brave heart to bind I'D the
bleeding wounds of her neighbors
Does she continually expect her neigh.
bors TO come and talk to her upon
only one subject, the loss OF her baby
girl? My friend, God sent you a sor.
row to prepare you for helping others
bear their trials. The easiest way To
overcome grief is by bravely lifting up
your cross and going forth TO comfort
others. Peter fishing for food for bis
children OH the sea OF Galilec Is a
tar more commendable sight than Pc
ter with tear stained cheeks. nursing
his grief upon the pebbIed beach OF the
sea OF Liberals.
Troubles Never Come Sinoly.
But there is another fact which Inn
presses me about Peters fishing expe-
dition. and that is that troubles do not
live a hermits life. They do not perch
as baldheaded eagle upon the era rs
and the cliffs In solitary glory. They
love companionship. Like some fish,
they travel IN schools. Like the cattle.
they pasture together in herds. Peters
troubles were cumulative. They came
In companies. Like the snowflakes.
they persisted In pillng themselves up
into great. impossible drift Like
the mighty onrushing rivers. they
gathered up the waters Of many brooks;
and creeks and fountains. In the first
place, Peter had an awful remorse
gnawing at his heart for his denial o,
Jesus Christ. Do you not suppose b.
thought or that apostasy day In an(
day out? After your father died. die
there not for weeks and months anG
years linger in your mind some act Of
disobedience or some dutiful act thai
you neglected TO do? Tell me. do you
NOT suppose there Were some people
just tactless enough to remind Peter
or his three denials? YES" they sar
castically said: IF were you. Peter
i would cry good deal about Jesus
death. You always pretended you Low.
ed him SO much. Oh, yes, you were
always going to be faithful! And YET
you failed him when the test came
Peter, j believe you are a hypocrite
and you would deny him again IL you
had the chance" And can hear Pc.
ter say: Yes, perhaps l would. G
Christ, why have l been false to thee Y'
Then the next grief Juggling ut Pc.
tiers heart was the awful thought that
all Christ suffered for and lfvad FL,