| The Every Day of Life |
Chapter 3 |
Page 5 |
You think your weakness unfits you for noble, strong, beautiful living, or for sweet, gentle, helpful serving. You wish you could get clear of it. It seems to burden you, an ugly deformity. But really it is something which if you give it to Christ he can transform into a blessing, a source of power. The friend by your side, whom you envy because he seems so much stronger than you are, does not get so much of Christ’s strength as you do. You alone are weaker than he or her; but your weakness draws to you divine power, and makes you strong.
There should be unspeakable comfort and inspiration for us in this truth. For example, we have not been successful in our life. We have tried hard but have not gotten on. This is the way it seems, at least on the earth side. But if, meanwhile, we have been true to God, and faithful in duty, there has been an unfailing inner prosperity, which we do not see. This world’s affairs are but the scaffolding of our real life, and within the rough exterior of earthly failure there has risen continually the noble building of a godly character.
A little story poem tells of an eager throng of youth setting out in a race. One among them excelled all the others in courage, strength, and grace, and gave early promise of winning. The way was long and hard, and the goal far away, but still this favorite held his place in the lead.
“But ah, what folly! See, he stops
To raise a fallen child,
To place it out of dangers way,
With kiss and warning mild.
A fainting comrade claims his care,–
Once more he turns aside;
Then stays his strong young steps to be
A feeble woman’s guide.
And so, wherever duty calls,
or sorrow, or distress,
He leaves his chosen path, to aid,
To comfort, and to bless.”
Page 5