THE SUNSHINE HABIT by Mary Alice Hare Loper

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 4, 1916

THE SUNSHINE HABIT

By Mary Alice Hare Loper

Do Your Share of the Smiling—Learn That "Thorns Have Roses"

By MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M. S.

If a meal's a little late, Smile! If you somehow break a plate, Smile! If the world seems upside down, And you feel just like a frown, Smile!

If you find the baby cross, Smile! If your business suffers loss, Smile! If grim disappointment stings, And you feel like throwing things, Smile!

A HUMOROUS author has tritely said, "Can't none of us help what traits we start out in life with, but we kin help what we end up with." It is well, therefore, to heed the advice of Alice Cary:

"Look for goodness, look for gladness, You will meet them all the while; If you bring a smiling visage To the glass, you meet a smile."

There is nothing so essential to the maintaining of a happy home as heaven-born cheerfulness on the part of the members of the household. It requires only that the moon get between our earth and the great luminary of day, to effect a total eclipse of the sun. It requires but a small dissension to eclipse the sun of domestic happiness, or extinguish its rays forever. Cheerfulness or moroseness may become epidemic in the home; therefore "children have more need of models than of critics." The small members of a household are reflectors of the words, acts, and facial expressions of those of older years.

Those who delight in taking the opposite side in the consideration of life's questions, large or small, in the home, carry this same disagreeable trait with them into the wider sphere of life's activities, and by holding tenaciously to their own pet opinions, become cloud producers on the social, business, and religious canopy of life. Implicit belief in the infallibility of one's own opinion in the little details of everyday experience, argues a narrow mind.

THE CONTENTIOUS MAN AND THE ANGRY WOMAN

Solomon well knew whereof he spoke when he said: "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman." "As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife."

It is the little sands of discord which cause the wheels of the domestic machinery to grate, and wear out prematurely. But the "oil of gladness" keeps everything running smoothly, accomplishing the work of the home in the very best manner. Some one has beautifully said:

"The thing that goes the farthest toward making life worth while, That costs the least, and does the most, is just a pleasant smile."

It is a matter of much consolation to know that the blessed gospel, with all that pertains to it, is free. The only difference between a becluded home and a home where there is always light and cheer, is the appropriating, by the latter, of the free gift of the Sun of righteousness. The individual who lives up to his privileges in the gospel, lives in the divine sunlight of hap- piness. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

That member of a household who is so wrapped up in himself that he imagines he is having more trials and disappointments to bear than anybody else, needs to become generous enough to take a broader view of life. Optimism is sunshine, but pessimism is cloud.

"It's easy enough to be pleasant when life flows along like a song, But the man worth while is the one who will smile when everything goes wrong."

"The blues" is an imaginary malady that is easy to catch, but hard to cure when it becomes chronic. Still it is possible to dwell with a "patient" thus afflicted, and yet be immune from the "disease." Henry Ward Beecher once said, "There are many troubles which you cannot cure by the Bible and the hymn book, but which you can cure by a good perspiration and a breath of fresh air." This remedy, however, is found in Bible principles.

WHEN YOU FEEL "THE BLUES" COMING ON

If you feel an attack of "the blues" coming on, get busy, so busy that you have no time to nurse your symptoms. Think of the needs of others, and leave yourself out of your thoughts until you become possessed of a sunny atmosphere. It is just as much your place to do your part to make the home happy where you dwell, as it is that of other members of the household to do their part; and although you may have petted your troubles until you think differently, it may be just as easy for you to be pleasant and cheerful, as it is for other members of the family circle who practice "letting a little sunshine in" to cheer the home life.

One person never bears all the domestic aches and pains of a household, although one may do all the complaining. It is well to learn the blessedness of looking at the home problems from the viewpoint of others, and be sure to be willing to yield cheerfully any pet theory which is proved to be undeserving of consideration. It is well always to remember that commas are not so important in life's sentences as the thoughts which they punctuate. Be broad-minded enough to see a thought when it is presented, and do not be contentious over the commas. Little contentions cause the clouds to thicken, and obscure the smiling sunshine which is essential to the thrifty growth of the plant of happiness in every home.

OUGHT NOT TO WED

Grouchiness should have no place in the home life. The chronic grumbler, who expects to keep on grumbling, would better never wed. It is all right that people should wed cheerfully; but it is much more essential that they make sure that they are being wedded to cheerfulness, if they wish to have a prosperous outlook for the future, no matter what may be their experiences.

Paul could joy in tribulation, rejoice in trial, sing in prison; and even in the face of execution, he cherished the sweet assurance, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous- ness." The secret of Paul's good cheer under severe persecution for the sake of Christ, is found in his own words: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

What a blessing in the home is that individual who never pouts, never scolds, never contends, never makes others wish that either they or he were somewhere else! It is our privilege to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Smiles, also, may become contagious. It is easy to smile at the one who always greets us with a smile; who trains the corners of his mouth to go up instead of down; who cherishes the somethings rather than the nothings of life; who loves life's splendid harmonies, but avoids its discords. How much better it is to be happy in the thought that "thorns have roses," than to be found "grumbling because roses have thorns"!

"When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

Smile!