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Disagreeable Things

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 40.

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Disagreeable Things

A NOVICE, working among prickly plants, noticed how deftly the Scotch gardener handled them, and commented upon the fact. “Aye, there’s many a scratch ye get at the first,” answered the old man, “but if ye’re canny, ye shall soon learn not to grip the thorns.” It is a lesson of life as well as of gardening.
The prickly, disagreeable things are plentiful; the uncomfortable happenings, the little slights and offenses, the cross-grained tempers, and the unreasonable words, are everywhere pushing themselves into unpleasant notice, but it is not necessary to “grip” them. There are those who do that all their days, and go about in a continual state of hurt, soreness, and complaint. He who is “canny” will learn to put them aside with light touch, and for the most part avoid their sting. They are not worth taking seriously enough to bring torn hands or heart.—Selected.