ACCEPT IT: by Ada D. Wellman

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 19, 1901

ACCEPT IT:

By Ada D. Wellman

MRS. ADA D. WELLMAN. (Oakland, Cal.)

WHEN about to go from home once for a few weeks, I requested a flower-loving neighbor to gather all the sweet-pea blossoms that would appear on my vines during my absence.

Though declaring that that would be a great privilege, she hesitated to accept it, expressing fear that to do so would be to deprive me of my own. I assured her that the flowers could be of no benefit to me when I was away, and that, on the contrary, if not picked, they would exhaust the strength of the plants, which then would cease to bloom.

Thus I endeavored to convince her that by taking the flowers, she would do me a favor. She thanked me cordially, and I went away feeling satisfied that the vines would be kept in good vigor; but on my return, I was dismayed to find them containing many pods, and few buds.

My neighbor hastened to inform me—as if confessing a trespass—that she had picked some of the sweet-pea blossoms; but when I asked why she had not taken more, she replied that she did not like to be so greedy-as to rob me.

In like manner, we fear to accept the full pardon and power which God would delight to give. We forget that giving does not impoverish Him, and that only when His infinite gift is accepted, will His infinite love be satisfied.