Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-16
Our Influence

Our Influence
The old year has slowly died
And the new year waiting stands,
And the golden rays OF the setting sun
Falls over all the land;
II hath brought much Of gladness,
And the sunlights golden CLEAN,
II hath given US hours Of sadness
And starry skies a CLEAN,
Bright hopes and glad sweet fancies
With the old year are passed by,
And our hearts touched with sadness,
AS we stand meath the cloud strewn sky.
Although a month OF our new year Is num-
bered with the past. this poetry seems in har-
mony with my feelings this morning came
across IL in an old scrap book have made
a. OS-r Household letters and other good poetry
and receipts I clipped from other papers. The
book is a great pleasure as well as help to
Annie Higgins. the letter you wrote on LET
your light shine found a welcome place In
my heart and scrapbook. had it read in Dun
Ladies Aid society last Saturday night; TO De
sure IL was warmly received. Write often.
To all the good writers let me say you may
not know when you do deed Just what the
result will be, but with every deed you are
/ sowing a seed, though the harvest you can
not See"
/ When I sat down to write had the subject
Of Pride in my mind, but now If Miss
Thomas doesn't shake the blue pencil at me
I'm going to say a few words on our PERSONA
influence. What has our influence been in
the past. Has il been for good to all we came
in contact with? Have we done our best at all
| times and all places, and to all people! I'm
afraid we haven't. Let's study over these
things seriously and see If we think God is
pleased with our lives. See If we have per-
formed every little thing to the best Of our
some are watching us and is being influ-
enced by the way we live. by the way We do
little things. Are we pleased for them TO follow
/ in our footsteps Let's be very careful lest
| they stumble over our mistakes. For Goo
has said: Let your light shine" Are we
doing this or is light only shining at
times? Oh, it's easy for us to do good deeds
Trh doesn't
against us personally. But are willing to
suffer for the cause Of Christ? For He has
said: Blessed they that suffer for my
sake" Let me give you verse from one
Of my favoTite songs.
/ IAN the pilgrims Of this earth I am told,
Who have suffered for their Lord on the
VIII receive a shining crown of gold
/ In a city that is far away"
and throwing out rays of light so that others
may see that there is reality in the God
that we love? Now that brings to my mind a
little example / once heard about influence
You may go out to a quiet little lake ana
throw a single rock in It; the result is the
water begins to tremble first where the rock
hit and that water rushes and waivers until
almost all the water Of the lake is in a tumult
The waters are still trembling after the rock
is silent In the bottom And so II is with
we come in contact with but they influence
others by the way they have been influenced
by us. and you see our Influence still lives
after we are passed out OF sight
Don't be mistaken with the idea that you
have mission to fill. and that no one is
Of some than others: Tor to some more talents
are given and neither are all required to do
| the same thing. But we are all a part of
Gods great plan and He expects US to add
/ to the talents He has given us.
Someone suggested that our life is like unto
musical instrument. Each one Of have
each note or string has its own proper place
on the instrument. Some are used more than
others, but each has place to fiji.
/ Just bear in mind the parable of the talents
| est Mathew 14:50 when Christ likened the
/ a lar country and called his servants and
one he gave five talents and to another one
two. II you are a Bible reader yop know
was afraid and hid HIS one talent. When the
master came back and called for his talents
he told him to take the talent he had
given him. You he was still responsible
even though # was buried.
| What kind OF earth do you suppose he hid
! II fn7 All! that sounds so much like some on
| Us today. We have the hope in our heart
that Christ has given US and we keep Il hid
away in our hearts. We are afraid to 20 to
| work with our talent and try TO influence
low in the way we're going. Afraid we
might be mistaken in ourselves or. I'm sorry
TO say; afraid someone win get offended by
US or laugh at US. Oh. how much we stand
back on account OF the opinion OF the people.
| But when the master came back 20 the un-
/ profitable servant and called for his talent
| he was angry and cast him into outer dark
ness and II are hiding away from the
world. the hope Christ has given u.s. He Is nol
pleased with Us. and IL in no way we're let
ting our light shine or working for His cause
I believe he will some time take away from
US all power and give II TO another who Will
use II and we Will certainly be left in dark
ness.
SO II we have been making mistakes in our
lives. keeping the talents hidden lets gets
% work and try 20 uncover the talent so the
world cannot help seeing u.
Some years ago the hope that had been given
me almost covered from my sight. II
took me long time to get that talent uncov-
cred and bright as II was when first given 70
ne I was certainty cast IN darkness for a
while; but when kept working for the talent
found the hope. I'll never forget that day and
7 glad. on glad. that the hope grows
stronger with me and trust have gained at
least one talent more - go with e.
/ ono more word about influence No person
is living but what has influence either for
good or evil: let's study our characters and
y-e see many mistakes looking back over the
raSt but let's profit by the past and say with
/ the poet:
The little I con do I Will.
Nv talent shall not rust:
Hovevc- weak I shall fulfill.
With faithfulness my trust.
Lcrcna your now years resolution was good
snd believe by the tone Of your letter and
quaint"d with you. that YOU will be able to
keep g.
"f'N 50 Bian % SEQ ftu1tnfr letter from ''fDll
wonen." Am clad she has been able 10 show
For riris IN" right way through Our Dear
Household
Il before closing I'm going ~ tell YOU my new
years resolution. am reading the New les
'ar1sTt. am going IN read che chapter every
GOV r-~0Trh -htS vpa~. Vow many Of the
.--u~rh0'd viii icin me-
Abunsan~e OF love % al.
Cr.LENDER FOWLER.
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