Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08

much as the natural result TIC man who
Is made ntSGardly and mean by the
abundance OF coed things which come to
nm proves himself inca pal bio Of apprecia-
ton. If ne boasts OF his blessings rs IL
his own worth brought them. he shows
himself conceitcd. II he counts his bless
ings Only 10 delight IN their possession
he displays n mind trcm which intelli-
gence has gene. IL he sees the need ot
others only to magnify before them his
own abundance. lie makes Himself a pow
er Tor evil. for nothing SO readily eactes
wrath and unreasoning rebellion as tho
claim FOR superiority because of posses
sions On the other hand H. who Is
made humble by the good things which
come 10 him because he knows he has
not mcritcd such kindness proves him
self appreciative. He WHO heSitates, to
display his gifts reveals the modesty OF
his character. He who rejoices I'm what
he has because ne IL thus made ready
to give to others manfests the very
heart OF goodness-he values good things
for the good they can do in the world
After our Christmas holidays IL is well
TO nave such lesson as this brought to
U.s. Unless the joys Of the season have
opened our hearts and made us more
ready to serve others. we have had
sorry experience. But If we 60 out into
the new year with great determine
ton to bless men, we prove that we have
grasped the Christmas spirit and that the
call OF the opening year has been UNDER
stood. He who is truly blessed feels the
unhappy world tugii ing and crying i'm its
sore need. and is eager 10 serve And IL
there anything in the world so dear as
to be of use to people? read book
not long ago in which a man called his
whe his blessing. 1t seemed to me
the sweetest pet name | had ever heard.
phere Is 1t up by the term! You can al
most see the influence OF the woman IN
the home-her cheerfulness. her patience.
her quickness to understand. her little
and constant offices Of graciousness her
words CT comfort. her face like the face
Of an angel! OF such one one readily
says:
She must have received muchw And
so she has. She has received and valued
the grace OF womanhood: she has learned
her power to lift up: she has been sane
titled by the King, Who delights In her
beauty PsL xiv. ID: she has made her.
self glorious that the whole world might
be made purer and sweeter and nobier.
The last chapter of the Book Of Proverbs,
in which King Lemuel praises his mother,
Is the finest panegyric ever penned -
does one good In these days Of wild exc
travagance just to read II. And the man
His hands. too. should be opened for ths
worlds good: his qualities should make
life cleaner and happier; his words and
works should be like leaven. seasoning
trace s4s s as iymB e hs6 usS as Ssss
ed thee forever'-so runs the old tranis
l&tlon OF the second verse OF Psalm, "a
and IT is high call to noble living.
To learn our lesson We must accept ana
remember certain primary truths: /. God
gives us all the good things we receive; :
man in giving is only Gods agent acting
by His command. p The gifts of God
are not always readily understood Some
times they come housed in clouds or reil-
ed in the mist of sorrow, and we have 10
study them to see how precious they are.
3. The gift is measured by its usefulness.
Prof James defined the new philosophy,
called "Pragmatism," as "the cash valve
of ideas" The philosophy of possessions.
whether material or mental. is marked by
Their practical value. What this or that
gift can do or what ii can enable me to
do haloes 1t In a radiance which proves
whence and why II came. 4. The use Of
the blessing opens the way for it's growth.
Good things multiply through use. never
through boarding. '"ro him that hath
shall be given. because lie has gained an
increase by service. Money kept in a
bag knows no increase: only money
thrown out in an effort to help men can
gain through interest. >. Blessings which
really touch the heart cause a throbbing
of blood which enters into life. Good
things held in pride change to ciirses.
represented as falling on Faust and
changing into scorching molten metal q.
And finally. true gratitude is shown BIZ
service rendered not alone to the giver.
but to the whole circle OF folk who need
cheer. We prove our gratitude not
alone with our lips, but I'm our lives. To
see sadness after we have sought to bless
and cheer another is to feel the keenest
agony: TO see new courage and hope and
delight in every motion is to know that
our gifts have done their work and sung
their message. So We prove to God our
gratitude when we go out to do His work
with quick feet and happy heart.
There is yet other consideration.
We need not look far TO find the opportG-
nifty. for II lies right near us. So MANY
think of some great vision, listen for
some distant call. look for some sign In
the skies But near at hand lies thu,
need. There is hardly any better reading
for this new year than Lowells Vision
of Sir Launfal.'' MY Grail in my castle
here is found" he cried as he learned
how many poor and hungry souls were
waiting at his own door for a word and
touch while he had been wandering all
over the earth in search of the holy life
Oh, dear friends. perhaps the man or
woman you see daily and who seems
strong and SO neutrality-suspicious. he
or she is the very one who is waiting for
your blessing. waiting for you to speak
the word of cheer which God has already
spoken to you.