The Man of Cheer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1908

WE love the man with a smile, the man with the roses on his tongue, the man who sees your boy’s dirty face but mentions his bright eyes, who notices your shabby coat but praises your studious habits, the man who sees all the faults but whose tongue is quick to praise and slow to blame. We like to meet a man whose smile will light up dreariness, whose voice is full of the music of the birds, whose hand-shake is an inspiration, and whose “God bless you,” is a benediction. He makes us forget our troubles as the raven’s dismal croak is forgotten when the wood-thrush or the brown thrasher sings.

There is plenty of trouble here, but we need not increase it. There is a lot of dying done ahead of time. There are living men who have already crossed Jordan two or three times, and, unfortunately, they are not of the type who “cross the river of Jordan happy in the Lord,” but who sing, if they sing at all, the dismalest, dreariest, deadliest music. The very tone is fatal to happiness. If you have faith, preach it; if you have doubts, bury them. If you have joy, share it; if you have sorrow, bear it. Find the bright side of things,—God’s side,—and help others to get sight of it also.—Zion’s Herald.