1916
Cheerfulness is a great asset. A smile and a song are worth a great deal to a person in any calling in life. Carlyle says, "Give me the man who sings at his work." It was a thousand pities that he did not practice what he preached. The sage of Chelsea only growled at his work, and made the lives of all about him miserable. Of all the men we meet on the street, there is no face we welcome as that of the one who greets us with a smile. We cross the street to meet him and exchange greetings, while we turn the corner to avoid the man with the harsh voice and the frown.
The soldier with a buoyant spirit, who sings as he marches, is a better campaigner, and will stand more hardship, than the one who is dour and silent. Soldiers march better to the sound of martial music than they do when they have no band. The inspiring strains enable them to perform prodigies of valor. It is said the French revolution was won by a song. Some time ago, a brave Gordon Highlander played his bagpipes to encourage his comrades, when his leg was shot away.
The work we do with a song is likely to be well done. The man who enjoys preaching will be a good preacher, and the man who enjoys writing will be a successful author. We should think of this in choosing our life work. If a man is not happy in his work, he should give it up at once, and find something congenial; for the greatest excellence can only be obtained when the spirit is in accord with the labor engaged in.
In our daily battle, we need a song as much as a soldier ever did. Many a man goes to his work feeling that life is a tremendous fight, and that he is scarcely holding his own in the contest. On his way he is joined by a friend, who is full of hope and cheerfulness. The bright look, the cheery tone, and encouraging words are like wine to his jaded spirit, and cheer him as nothing else would.
Cheerfulness should mark the life of the Christian. Nothing commends Christ as readily as a happy Christian, and nothing disgraces Him as readily as a morose and a sour one. If we would have others believe in our religion, and be attracted to it, we must show that we enjoy it ourselves. — Onward.
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The Lord Hates a Grouch
1911
Are you a grouch? Is the sun always behind a cloud when you look at it? Are you suspicious of every man who meets you with a smile, and does the prattle and laughter of children grate on your ears?
If this is the case there is something wrong with your insides. The trouble may be physical and it won't hurt to try a good dyspepsia cure. But the chances are that it is mental, and then you want to go out on the street and hire two or three big, husky fellows with heavy boots to kick you all over the townsite for a couple of hours. When you come to your vision will be a little clearer. A few doses like the doughnut instead of the hole.
The Lord and the community hate a grouch worse than they do a liar. There is no happy abiding place for them, either here or on the other side of Jordan's stormy banks.
The grouch walks down the street with his face the picture of a dose of quinine, and the neighbors look at each other and say, "How he hates himself." He goes to church and the only thing he notices is that the room is a little cold and the choir picked mighty poor hymns. He walks into a store and the clerks hide behind the counter to avoid him. His days are filled with stomach pains and his nights with bad dreams, while his cup runneth over with bitter gall. — Bert Walker.
—The Ellis Review-Headlight, Ellis, Kansas, 1911.
Are you a grouch? Is the sun always behind a cloud when you look at it? Are you suspicious of every man who meets you with a smile, and does the prattle and laughter of children grate on your ears?
If this is the case there is something wrong with your insides. The trouble may be physical and it won't hurt to try a good dyspepsia cure. But the chances are that it is mental, and then you want to go out on the street and hire two or three big, husky fellows with heavy boots to kick you all over the townsite for a couple of hours. When you come to your vision will be a little clearer. A few doses like the doughnut instead of the hole.
The Lord and the community hate a grouch worse than they do a liar. There is no happy abiding place for them, either here or on the other side of Jordan's stormy banks.
The grouch walks down the street with his face the picture of a dose of quinine, and the neighbors look at each other and say, "How he hates himself." He goes to church and the only thing he notices is that the room is a little cold and the choir picked mighty poor hymns. He walks into a store and the clerks hide behind the counter to avoid him. His days are filled with stomach pains and his nights with bad dreams, while his cup runneth over with bitter gall. — Bert Walker.
—The Ellis Review-Headlight, Ellis, Kansas, 1911.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A Plea for Hopefulness
1910
Pessimism is a Sin, the Pessimist a Man to Avoid
Hopefulness is a true sign of greatness. It means a conviction that we are greater than our troubles, greater than the world itself, greater than death, and can hold our own whenever it comes, in the universe anywhere and through all eternity.
Such conviction makes a man a god. It is better than riches or high position. It makes a poor man a king. A person who constantly fears or worries is practically an atheist. He has no faith in himself or any other being, He does not usually live long. Worry kills more than whisky; it really hardens the arteries.
No man has a right to kill his friends by a sad, morose countenance. A long face is a mark of religion. It is out of date just now and forever. Sour-looking people should be shut up in jail; they are dangerous. It is a good thing to throw back your shoulders, walk erect, and believe that you own the whole city. You do as really as anyone else, and you feel better for the belief.
Most of our troubles are fear for the future, only "bogies" which disappear when you walk up to them. There is a good time coming. It is here already, if we only knew it.
"To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin."
Recipe for a Long Life
He who would live long, healthfully and happily in the land should avoid all anger, hatred, jealousy, revenge, fear, anxiety and worry. He should earnestly cultivate those two great virtues, calmness and kindliness. For calmness and kindliness are not only moral virtues, but are the most valuable of all hygienic influences.
Pessimism is a Sin, the Pessimist a Man to Avoid
Hopefulness is a true sign of greatness. It means a conviction that we are greater than our troubles, greater than the world itself, greater than death, and can hold our own whenever it comes, in the universe anywhere and through all eternity.
Such conviction makes a man a god. It is better than riches or high position. It makes a poor man a king. A person who constantly fears or worries is practically an atheist. He has no faith in himself or any other being, He does not usually live long. Worry kills more than whisky; it really hardens the arteries.
No man has a right to kill his friends by a sad, morose countenance. A long face is a mark of religion. It is out of date just now and forever. Sour-looking people should be shut up in jail; they are dangerous. It is a good thing to throw back your shoulders, walk erect, and believe that you own the whole city. You do as really as anyone else, and you feel better for the belief.
Most of our troubles are fear for the future, only "bogies" which disappear when you walk up to them. There is a good time coming. It is here already, if we only knew it.
"To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin."
Recipe for a Long Life
He who would live long, healthfully and happily in the land should avoid all anger, hatred, jealousy, revenge, fear, anxiety and worry. He should earnestly cultivate those two great virtues, calmness and kindliness. For calmness and kindliness are not only moral virtues, but are the most valuable of all hygienic influences.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Be of Good Cheer, Child of God
1895
Be of Good Cheer
It was amid the storm and darkness, the ship going to pieces which was carrying Paul a prisoner to Rome, that the grand, heroic man bade all aboard to be of good cheer, he gave a reason for his quiet courage: "There stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am and whom also I serve, saying, fear not, Paul; for you must stand before Caesar. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, and it shall be even so as it has been spoken unto me."
No matter what may come to God's witnesses they need not fear. It is for them simply to be faithful to their testimony. The battle in us and around us, now as ever, is between truth and falsehood, righteousness and unrighteousness, Christ and Satan. By reason of our unbelief and perverseness and selfishness, the way may be long and through the wilderness, yet he leadeth us. It is for us to add to our faith, courage, manliness, patience, that we may endure to the end.
God reigns, and if he be for us we are stronger than all who are against us. The triumph of wickedness is short. Be of good cheer, child of God.
Be of Good Cheer
It was amid the storm and darkness, the ship going to pieces which was carrying Paul a prisoner to Rome, that the grand, heroic man bade all aboard to be of good cheer, he gave a reason for his quiet courage: "There stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am and whom also I serve, saying, fear not, Paul; for you must stand before Caesar. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, and it shall be even so as it has been spoken unto me."
No matter what may come to God's witnesses they need not fear. It is for them simply to be faithful to their testimony. The battle in us and around us, now as ever, is between truth and falsehood, righteousness and unrighteousness, Christ and Satan. By reason of our unbelief and perverseness and selfishness, the way may be long and through the wilderness, yet he leadeth us. It is for us to add to our faith, courage, manliness, patience, that we may endure to the end.
God reigns, and if he be for us we are stronger than all who are against us. The triumph of wickedness is short. Be of good cheer, child of God.
Notes on Religion – Love Unites All Graces
1895
Other Anvils
The Standard: Love is like the diamond — pure, white. Other graces shine like the precious stones of nature, each with its own hue of brilliance; the diamond uniting all colors with one beautiful and simple white. Love, uniting all graces, is "the fulfilling of the law," the beauty of holiness, "the image of God."
Presbyterian Messenger: The atmosphere of a house is what makes it homelike. Every living creature has an atmosphere of his own. He can be as chilly and damp and disagreeable as a March wind; he can be as bright, cheerful and charming as a June morning; he can be as dark and impenetrable as a November fog, or as crisp and electric as a day in December.
New York Mail and Express: It has recently been announced that two eminent western clergymen have joined in an enterprise to organize dramatic companies with a view of preventing immoral dramas upon the stage, and thereby to encourage the drama as a moralizing factor in the education of the people at large. The experiment is shortly to be tested at the People's Institute in Chicago.
London Commonwealth: Hebrew is rapidly becoming a living language again. This is one of the singular facts of the age. In Jerusalem and throughout Palestine there is a remarkable resurrection of the language of Moses. The only papers published in Palestine are two weeklies, both in Hebrew. In 1893, a Jewish monthly was started for juvenile readers, and this also was in Hebrew. There are households where only Hebrew is spoken. Here we have a sign of the times. The Jews cannot die out while they keep their old language alive.
Other Anvils
The Standard: Love is like the diamond — pure, white. Other graces shine like the precious stones of nature, each with its own hue of brilliance; the diamond uniting all colors with one beautiful and simple white. Love, uniting all graces, is "the fulfilling of the law," the beauty of holiness, "the image of God."
Presbyterian Messenger: The atmosphere of a house is what makes it homelike. Every living creature has an atmosphere of his own. He can be as chilly and damp and disagreeable as a March wind; he can be as bright, cheerful and charming as a June morning; he can be as dark and impenetrable as a November fog, or as crisp and electric as a day in December.
New York Mail and Express: It has recently been announced that two eminent western clergymen have joined in an enterprise to organize dramatic companies with a view of preventing immoral dramas upon the stage, and thereby to encourage the drama as a moralizing factor in the education of the people at large. The experiment is shortly to be tested at the People's Institute in Chicago.
London Commonwealth: Hebrew is rapidly becoming a living language again. This is one of the singular facts of the age. In Jerusalem and throughout Palestine there is a remarkable resurrection of the language of Moses. The only papers published in Palestine are two weeklies, both in Hebrew. In 1893, a Jewish monthly was started for juvenile readers, and this also was in Hebrew. There are households where only Hebrew is spoken. Here we have a sign of the times. The Jews cannot die out while they keep their old language alive.
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