Little Things at Home by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

Little Things at Home

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN

What we truly are at home, is what the records on high put down as our real moral strength after all. We are no stronger than we are at home, in the every-day annoyances encountered there. If we are cross and disagreeable there, the prayers and testimonies suffer just this ratio of discount in the ears of the members of our homes, at least. And this discount we can not afford. The testimony of the wife, that husband is a Christian; the testimony of the boy and girl, that father is a Christian, counts for a great deal more than what some congregation that has listened to this same father preach or testify in their social service, may say about it. And the same holds true regarding what the husband and children know of the wife and mother's life at home.

Jesus knows that it is no easy task to be truly kind and Christlike at home. He knows how the devil nags the steps of each, seeking in what seem the little things, to trip us up. That provoking little thing that comes up may lead the father or mother or child to a hasty word that manifests temper. Then the devil has his point gained. He follows it with another occasion, a little more aggravating, perhaps, and exults to see the same weakness repeated. Then the joy of the offender is broken. Hearts are grieved, angels are made sad, and the only way out is by way of the cross. These little things sometimes cost us hours of heartaches, some tears, and confession of the wrong done a loved one.

This is no fancy sketch. We do not have to look over into our brother's home to see how it goes.

There is, in reality, no little thing. It is the seemingly little things that Satan trips us up on. This being so, may it not be that the Lord can as truly be served in the seemingly little things on the side of right doing? If we can lose so much by a wicked, cross word to a loved one, why is it not possible to gain much by some little helpful kind word or act? This is worth thinking about. The only way out is to “acknowledge thine iniquity,” and not seek to excuse the wicked thing, just because we did it. Then joy to the soul may be restored.

‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God.’ All is not lost. We need not go mourning all the day. Our joy may be regained. It is not like lost time, which is never found again, but rather like the neglected harp, hanging on the wall, dust-covered and unstrung, which, if taken down and properly readjusted, may give forth as sweet music as it ever did. So also the old joy, the first love, the fellowship and communion with God of other days, may be recovered; and the soul, exulting, sing again, ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee?’

Another writer has beautifully expressed it in these words: “The way to the recovery of joy is up duty’s track. And It is by renewed obedience that we shall find our lost treasure of joy. Confession of sin, humiliation, the doing of the first works, and a ready obedience to the commands of God—these are stages in the journey which, if conscientiously and persistently continued in, will lead to the regaining of the heavenly joy that will increase with the years, and finally burst forth into the halleluiahs of our eternal home.” And all this may be experienced in your own home, with your own loved ones about you. To this end the writer is striving for the victory in his own home.

“I have lost the way to happiness— O, who will lead me back? Turn off from the highway of selfishness To the right—up duty’s track.”

Takoma Park, D. C.