| The Every Day of Life |
Chapter 15 |
Page 4 |
It is easy in the frictions that too often are felt in our homes to lose patience and speak unadvisedly and unkindly. Husband and wife in their mutual relations do not always exercise patience. They seem to forget that love should never be ungentle, but should be thoughtful, kindly, and affectionate in look and word and manner. Parents fail sometimes in the duty of patience with their children. The children of a household, in too many cases, do not live together in that lovingness which belongs to the ideal Christian home. Many words are spoken which show irritation, and even bitterness. Such words hurt gentle hearts, sometimes irreparably. But family-life ought to be free from all impatience. Wherever else we may fail in this gentle spirit, it should not be in our own home. Only the gentlest life should have place there. We have not long to stay together in this world, and we should be patient and gentle while we may.
“The hands are such dear hands;
They are so full; they turn at our demands
So often; they reach out,
With trifles scarcely thought about
So many times; they do
So many things for me; for you –
If their fond wills mistake,
We may well bend, not break.
They are such fond, frail lips,
That speak to us. Pray if love strips
Them of discretion many times,
Or if they speak too slow, or quick, such crimes
We may pass by, for we may see
Days not far off when those small words may be
Held not as slow or quick, or out of place, but dear,
Because the lips are no more here.
They are such dear, familiar feet that go
Along the path with ours–feet fast or slow,
And trying to keep pace. If they mistake,
And tread upon some flower that we would take
Upon our breast, or bruise some reed,
Or crush poor hope until it bleeds,
We may be mute,
Not turning quickly to impute
Grave fault; for they and we
Have such a little way to go–can be
Together such a little while along the way,
We will be patient while we may.
So many little faults we find.
We see them, for not blind
To love, We see them some by and by,
They will not be
Faults then–grave faults–to you and me,
But just old ways, mistakes, or even less,
Remembrances to bless.
Days change so many things–yes, hours;
We see so differently in sun and showers.
Mistaken words to-night
May be so cherished by to-morrow’s light!
We may be patient for we know
There’s such a little way to go.”
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