A Sling and a Stone by Emma Hildreth Adams

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 7, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 22.

A Sling and a Stone

By Emma Hildreth Adams

It is quite as true in human conduct as in nature, that “tall oaks from little acorns grow.”

On one perilous day, long centuries ago, two hostile armies confronted each other on a barbarous field of battle. One host was noisy with threatening and defiance. The other recoiled in weakness and fear.

Suddenly there appeared on the arena a ruddy-faced youth, who, discarding armor, helmet, and coat of mail, offered him by his king, and equipping himself with but a leather sling, and a smooth stone caught from the near-by brook, smote the clamorous champion of the attacking party.

Thereby did that ruddy keeper of sheep win, that day, not only a famous victory for an intimidated king and soldiery, but he planted in the hearts of dejected Israel seeds of courage and valor, which, in subsequent years, brought forth fruitage wonderful in amount, and amazing for quality,—fruitage whose aggregation far exceeded that one quick, faith-filled act of the shepherd son of Jesse.

The Scriptures are gemmed with such heroic deeds,—deeds inspired, it may be, at the moment, deeds impelled by loftiest motives, deeds displaying truest patriotism, and followed by results propitious beyond all expectation, by consequences never anticipated.

But let us walk a while amid the plants and flowers, and see beautifully illustrated how right resolutions, put into legitimate action, yield harvests out of all proportion to their seed thoughts; just as one white seed of the orange yields, in fruit, fragrance, and adornment for the landscape, a hundred-fold or more.

The other day, led by ties of kinship, the writer visited a home which crowns a short, green slope facing the twinkling, flashing sea at Redondo, that most beautiful of Pacific beaches in Southern California.

On either side of the walk leading to the front door of the dwelling there lay—spread over a large circle of animate soil—a magnificent geranium of the Lady Washington variety, glorious, on one side of the walk, in snowy white and lovely shades of pink; and on the other, radiant in crimson, velvet black, and white.

Each plant had but one central stem, yet both presented an amazing mass of crowded bloom, beautiful beyond power of words to describe.

So freighted, overborne, with jubilant blossoms, were the multitudinous branches, that most of them, like frolicsome children, had fallen away from the parent stalk, and lay prone upon the ground, forming a wide circle of joy-giving life and color.

Held by the fascinating scene, I listened to its lovely yet profound teaching.

Forth bloomed several pointed lessons,—lessons tinted by conditions, dyed by circumstances in life. But that which impressed me remarkably, was, that abounding products may result from infantile beginnings; that from minute planting of worthy seed may issue great measure of delightful income.

Therein, too, was portrayed encouragement to walk onward from a first step in a right path; incitement to make effort when means seem inadequate, when capital is epitomized, when doors of opportunity stand but half open; inspiration to do one’s best even if instruments be not the finest, if fog dim the sun, if winds blow unkindly.

Some of the most brilliant achievements in the realm of mechanics were, at first, but a thought in the fertile brain of some observing, thinking, often indigent man. USING his first thought, his ideas multiplied, clarified, individualized, and there resulted a creation to help the race, to lighten its burdens, to multiply its comforts, to awaken emulation in other minds.

In a conversation recently, a woman said to the writer: “I am deeply interested in the work of the Parent Teachers’ Association, of this place; and tho I possess but little ability, I am resolved to attend its meetings, and to try to aid some poor young mothers I know, in getting a broader view of their relationship and duties.”

The woman put her resolve into execution. She attended the meetings of the association. To-day she is its president, with an inviting door of service wide open before her.

She put her little brown apple-seed into the ground promptly. It sprouted in a day. The living shrub grew as if by magic. Soon some of its wholesome fruit will ripen in a young mother’s expanding concern and effort for the right development of her children.

A little stone of right THOUGHT, put into the sling of strong PURPOSE, and thrown by a skilled hand, on any of the battle-fields of life, may slay, almost any day, some blatant giant of error, of mistake, of crying evil, and deliver an army of God’s chosen people. The thing is to act, when the inspiration comes.

The same principle is true in moral and in spiritual affairs. The final product of a firm, first step in pure living may end in a character grand in strength and uprightness.

An initial step taken in obedience to God and His commandments, may result in the inestimable compensation of ETERNAL LIFE.