A Good Answer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

“You are building a good wall there,” said a passer-by, stopping to look at a workman by the roadside. “Some of your material looks rather poor to work with, too,” and he glanced at a pile of rough, jagged stones.

“I ain’t pickin’ my materials,” the man answered, simply. “What I’m here for is to build as good a wall as I can with the stuff that’s brought me.”

The same is true with the life we are building. We can seldom choose our material. Many a rough and unexpected thing befalls, many an occurrence which we not only did not desire, but against which we cry out in bitter protest. Still it comes to us—material that some way, for good or ill, must find its place in our building.

We can not choose our material, but we can choose what we will do with it, and what it shall do for us,—whether it shall weaken or strengthen the character we are forming.—Wellspring.