| The Every Day of Life |
Chapter 12 |
Page 7 |
When we speak of consecrating our lives to Christ it is to the common deeds of the common days that we must think of turning. Consecration must first be a spirit in us, a spirit of love, a life in our hearts, which shall flow out to every one we desire to bless and help and make better. Thackeray tells of one who kept his pockets full of acorns and whenever he saw a vacant place in his estate he took out one and planted it. In like manner he exhorts his readers to do with kind words as they go through life, never losing a chance of saying one. “An acorn costs nothing, but it may sprout into a prodigious bit of timber.” To such a life true consecration prompts and inspires. It takes lowliness of mind in many of us to accept such obscure services. We think too often of some great things to be given to us to do when we devote ourselves to Christ.
“My soul was stirred; I prayed: ‘Let me
Do some great work so purely
To right life’s wrongs, that I shall know
That I have loved thee surely.’
My lips sent forth their eager cry,
The while my heart beat faster.
‘For some great deed to prove my love,
Send me, send me, my Master.’
From out the silence came a voice
Saying, ‘If God thou fearest,
Rise up and do, thy whole life through,
The duty that lies nearest.
The friendly word, the kindly deed,
Though small the act in seeming,
Shall in the end unto thy soul
Prove mightier than thy dreaming.
‘The cup of water to the faint,
Or rest unto the weary,
The light thou givest another life
Shall make thine own less dreary,
And boundless realms of faith and love
Will wait for thy possessing;
Not creeds, but deeds, if thou wouldst win
Unto thy soul a blessing.’”
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