The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-11-25
LET US BE THANKFUL


Rev. R. O. Lawton in Greenwood
Index-J ournal.
Giving thanks always for all things
until God in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Ephesians 500.
This Thanksgiving finds US in the
midst of panic. Our resources have
dwindled; our assets are diminished.
Money is tight; business is slack; the
! times are out of joint. Good business
men have failed; others are about to
fail. Millions of strong and efficient
men and women are unemployed. Un-
rest is abroad in the land.
This Thanksgiving also finds us in
moral slump. The spiritual re-
sources of the nation are at low tide.
Business obligations are not so bind
ing as they were. The business world
has invented. new word. So many
bona hde orders have been cancelled
that we are said to be suffering from
disease called cancelitis. The voice
of cynicism is heard in the land. Di-
vorce is running away with our coun-
try. Simple and innocent pleasures
have been crowded out by vicious and
enervating forms of amusement. The
Bible is being wounded in the house
of it's friends in the name of light
and scholarship, while pail of in
difference has settled down over the
people of God.
These are bad and sad symptoms,
but there is no reason for pessimism
or despair This is temporary con-
dition-an aftermath of the war and
post war prosperity. History teaches
us that the world cannot stand too big
dose of war or prosperity. We have
recently had tremendous dose of
both; now we are in financial and
moral slump the world over.
But we as a people have great
cause for gratitude. Let US be thank
full:
/. For food to eat and clothes to
wear and houses to live in and cover
and fuel. Millions of earth's unfor-
tunates lack life's barest necessities.
While some of our people will suffer
this winter, nobody in our great coun-
try will starve or freeze. Isn't this
something to be thankful for?
g. Let us be thankful for the
measure of health and strength we
have We may not be as strong in
body as we would care to be, and not
so healthy as some of our friends, but
measure of health and strength is
cause for gratitude. 1t means much
for one to be able to perform ones
daily tasks and make living, even
though one labors in pain and tolls
under difficulties. If we are not ply
! sically strong it is entirely possible
that Gods hand is in it all, and He
! can make more beautiful characters
and witnesses out Of us with weak
bodies than He could if we were
strong. Paul probably had eye trou-
bic and Timothy stomach trouble, but
they rendered richer service to the
world than did Samson with his stall
wart body and herculean strength.
3. Let US be thankful FOR our
friends. They make the desert place
in our hearts blossom as the rose.
; They help to life from our shoulders
"the heavy and the weary weight of
all this unintelligible world" They
invest our lives with treasures that
this poor earth cannot give or take
away and fill them with grander mus
ic than sphere harmonies. What
cherries and tragic old world it
would be without the magic charm of
true friends voice and the tender
touch of warm friends hand! Let
lus be thankful for friends.
i. Let us be thankful for home and
loved ones at home. The man who
has {. /, yal, devoted, good wife is rich,
! though poor, and the woman who has
a true, kind and faithful husband is
blessed of the Lord Wherever there
are sweet, bright-eyed normal chill