Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-05
- PAGE For THE Women FOLKSB
4HEAPT HND
HONE talks
The Trua Element of Growth

-lE are SO accustomed to look upon physical growth as largely a
ltAIt matter of time that We are apt to consider mental and spiritual
IsHl progress as likewise dependent upon the passing of the year
w We just naturally think that we must develop in mind and spirit
as we grow older that the one must inevitably follow IS the consequence
of the other.
But If you stop to think a moment, don't you know both lei and
women who haven't grown a n eighth of ar inch mentally or spiritually
in the last tel OF twenty years? They go about their daily tasks in the
office IT the home. perhaps perform them most satisfactorily The a
may be a ne housekeeper. Her house may be Immaculate and run upon
fine system-the washing and ironing done on Mondays and Tuesdays.
the sweeping o n its particular day. the leftovers carefully utilized, the
stockings darned. You can't put your finger on single spot in the house
that shows carelessness OF lack of thrift. Yet mentally she hasn't an
opinion beyond that which she held ten years ago; spiritually her vision
is nj broad han n was when as vouno p, tho went p, sud, ST.,
The years ave passed but she has OF grown.
So 1t isn't time that is the true element of growth in these matters.
Our physical nature that needs time for growth has to do with the mate
rial. But ur mental and spiritual nature is of qute another realm.
and its growth depends upon the things of this other world
For the true element of growth. mentally and spiritually, Is the
recognition of the need. 1t is a n inner cause, not an outer; it belongs
to the immaterisl world, not the material
The passing of the years may bring some slight progress due to
contact with others and unconscious assimilation of their ideas But
this Is scarcely true growth, and 1t is very slight. Growth that is real
and of moment cal only com from a recognition by is Of a need.
We must recognize W Q are Ignorant before n desire will awaken
in us for knowledge. The business woman us realize that there is
much she needs to know in her work before she will begin to make her
self more proficient. The mother must recognize her lack of knowledge
with the wealth of knowledge N this important field. The housekeeper
must realize that her methods are wasteful and Anticipated. before she
will desire o get in touch with uptodate ways.
And In the realms of the spirit this is equally true. If we do not
realize that w are living spiritually a narrow life. II W e do OF recog-
nze that W have shut ourselves. by dogma or creed or convention. into
a little space in which there Is n o roo for development, W e " will
ROY beyond these confines.
And thus we will miss much Joy in life. or there would b little
purpose in living II we werem merely to go out OF the world the sam al
when we came In. except for such material experiences as eating and sleep
ing and working. Mental spiritual growth is as necessary as phyI-
cal And although We ca leave the physical to the ear to accomplish.
we need to look Inward to u individual needs to bring about the other.
So, It Is worth while. Is 1t not. to take a little time to study what
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