| Home Making |
Chapter 8 |
Page 11 |
Shall we call our home a Christian home, and yet never worship Christ within our doors? Shall we call ourselves God’s children, and yet never offer any praise to our Father? Should there not be some difference between a Christian and a heathen home? Should not God’s children live differently from the children of this world? What mark is there that distinguishes our home from the home of our godless neighbor if there be no family altar?
There are many things that tend to cause friction in a household. There are daily cares. There are annoyances of a thousand kinds that break in upon the even flow of the family life. None of us are angels, and our intercourse together is ofttimes marred by selfishness or impatience or irritability or querulousness. Sometimes our quick lips speak the harsh word that gives pain to more than one tender heart in the household. We sometimes misunderstand each other, and a shadow hangs between two souls which love each other very truly. There is nothing that will smooth out all the little tangles and set all wrong things right again like the daily worship together. Every burden is there brought and laid off on the great Burden bearer. Harsh feelings are softened as the admonitions of God’s word fall on the ear. Hearts are drawn closer together as they approach the same throne of heavenly grace and feel the Spirit’s power. Impatience vanishes from face and speech while all wait together before God. No bitterness against another member of the family can live through a tender season of household worship; while we plead with God to forgive our sins we cannot but forgive one another. Peace comes to the perplexed soul while bowing at God’s feet and feeling the great calm of his own peace brooding over us and lying all about us. We are ashamed of our disquiet and worry when we look up into our Father’s face and see how faithfully he loves and cares for us.
“My mind was ruffled with small cares today,
And I said pettish words, and did not keep
Long suffering patience well; and now how deep
My trouble for this sin! In vain I weep
For foolish words I never can unsay.
“Yet not in vain, oh, surely not in vain!
This sorrow must compel me to take heed:
And surely I shall learn how much I need
Thy constant strength my own to supersede,
All my thoughts to patience to constrain.
“Yet, I shall learn at last, though I neglect
Day after day to seek my help from thee.
Oh, aid me, that I may always recollect
This gentle heartedness; and oh, correct
Whatever else of sin thou seest in me.”
Page 11
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