MRS. A. G. BODWELL by Mrs. A. G. Bodwell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 29, 1903

MRS. A. G. BODWELL

By Mrs. A. G. Bodwell

Friendship

MRS. A. G. BODWELL

Friendship is like a tender plant. It must be taken care of and cultivated.

When we see a beautiful flower in the market, we instinctively desire to possess it; and having secured a plant, we begin to wait for the appearance of that which will be the fruition of our hopes.

The most favorable situation is provided, and the best kind of soil. The plant is sheltered from the scorching rays of the midday sun, and the chilling blasts of wintry nights. Everything, in short, is done to aid in the development of the choice exotic which we so long to see burst forth into buds and flowers.

At last, after patient waiting, we are delighted with the appearance of one tiny bud after another, and finally a glorious flower bursts forth. Its delicate petals and fragrant aroma are a source of pleasure to all around.

So is friendship; and he who knows the habitat of this flower, and the secret of its cultivation, will certainly obtain the best results.

By nature man is a social being; but in order to reach the climax of association—noble friendship—we must give time and thought to its cultivation. Cultivation consists in little acts of disinterested kindness, thoughtfulness, sincerity, courtesy, and the thousand-and-one ways that are peculiar to each individual.

As the cultivation of the plant only aids in developing and enhancing its beauty, not in creating it, so true friendship must have its origin deeper down than mere outward acts. The seed must be from the garden above. It must have the sunshine of God's love and favor upon it, and it must be watered by the gentle dew of his Spirit, or it, like many other things in the world, will forever remain a hollow ceremonial.

In the vegetable kingdom, the plants are many and varied. But who would think of subjecting every one to the same method of cultivation to obtain the desired results? Just so it is, it would seem, with humanity; and this means that to be successful in winning souls, we must first show ourselves friendly, study the idiosyncrasies of each, and adapt ourselves to the different casts of human nature about us. For example: some persons are like chestnut-burs, and must be approached with care, or we may never know the sweetness of the nature within. Some are like the modest violet; if we would enjoy its fragrance, we must stoop to raise its drooping head. Others, like sensitive plants, fold up their beautiful leaves at every sudden gust of adversity that bursts upon them. One is like the bleeding-heart, and another is like heartsease. Some are like thistles; the more we cultivate them, the more able they are to hurt us. Some, like lilies, direct our thoughts to heaven. Others are like the pansy, whose very countenance is filled with consolation. Some, palm-like, are ever waving for victory, while others remind us of the sturdy oak whose head appears to reach above every cloud, and to drink in only the dew and sunshine of God's love.

There are friends and friends. Some cultivate our friendship in order to further some inglorious end; that is, for the pecuniary benefit which may accrue to them. When we are no longer able to serve them, we wake up to find ourselves on the ragged edge of oblivion. There are some clinging souls, who must have the support of friends, or else their delicate tendrils may clasp the things of earth, and thus be borne down to the filth and mire below.

A few, actuated by divine impulse, are friends because we need them. Of these the wise man spoke, no doubt, when he said: “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.”

In true friendship there is a kind of “bank-of-exchange” business. We gladly receive from our friends not only their golden thought treasures, but their protection and encouragement, and at the same time are unconsciously imparting like benefits to them.

As the flower has many parts, so we have many phases to our lives. True friendship is that which makes us love and admire the fragrance and beauty of the rose, even though it may possess a few troublesome thorns.

Flowers are only the promise of fruit; so may we, when time shall have wafted us away on its swift pinions to the city of God, have many sheaves to present to the Lord, as the fruition of our earthly friendships.