REFLECTIONS by M. E. Steward

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 20, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 48, No. 4.

REFLECTIONS

By M. E. Steward

How wise and merciful are all God's plans, manifested even in his most painful dealings toward us. I have heard persons say they did not wish to be saved if their loved ones were not to be, but let such reflect a little. We lay one whom we tenderly loved in the grave. Our sorrow seems insupportable; but time is a healer. Our mourning after awhile becomes less intense, and at last softens into occasional tender, sorrowful memories. Our Father has wisely ordered it thus; for, otherwise, oh, what a funereal place were all the earth!

When young we may become ardently attached to some friend from whom we soon part to meet no more till we become old people. Do you think the intervening time, with all its labors, interests, and other loves, has wrought no change in our regard for this friend? We meet in old age with scarcely a trace of the feelings of early life. Our God perfectly understands our natures. In great mercy he separates us from our unconverted friends, not for fifty or seventy years, but for a thousand. We begin this period with hearts attuned to his will and character, and as we pass down through these years, every day we learn more and more of him and of his works; and the more we know of him the more we reverence his wisdom and justice, and love his goodness. Our judgments cheerfully acquiesce in all his doings, and we grow more and more out of our earthly selves and into God. Meanwhile time separates us from those lost ones who were so dear to us in this life, and weans us from them.

Now suppose we were called, at the resurrection of the just, with our feelings toward our friends unchanged, to witness their destruction, what a shock it would be to us! But our God is wise and merciful. We can trust him with our tenderest feelings, our dearest ties, our whole hearts and lives! Most adorable Father, help me to settle into thy will and become conformed to thy holiness now.

M. E. STEWARD.

Battle Creek, Mich.