ONE WHITE LILY by L. M. Stormont

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 15, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 42.

ONE WHITE LILY.

By L. M. Stormont

MISS TALBOT stood looking down at the pure white blossoms lifting their sweet faces from among the dark heart-shaped leaves of the calla lily which was now rewarding her for the good care given it the previous months. The great bay window had been a favorable location for the lily, and it was now in full bloom.

“I’m going to take this one to Mrs. Spears,” she said to her mother. She never has time to raise flowers, and is shut up in that little store all day long—that is all day after she gets there. Some one was telling me the other day that she rises at four o’clock every morning and washes, irons, gets breakfast, or does whatever work has to be done for her five children, before eight o’clock, when she must be at the shop. I believe she’ll like this lily.”

Accordingly that afternoon it was carried to Mrs. Spears, and her admiration of the flower, as well as her appreciation of the thoughtfulness of the donor, were heartily expressed. It was placed in a slender vase and was a pleasure to the customers who came, as well as to herself.

The next morning a woman who, like Mrs. Spears, had many burdens in her home, and an invalid mother to care for, came to the little shop.

The lily was sent to the aged invalid and reminded her of the Saviour’s words, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you?”

Many of us do not realize the depth of meaning in these words to those who are helpless to provide for their needs, and this mother and daughter were comforted by the presence and message of the lily.

In the evening a young lady from another village called, whose mother was also shut in, and again the flower was carefully wrapped and passed on to her.

The spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness, to be obtained as a free gift and worn in the city of light, was the theme suggested by the lily to this invalid’s mind.

Nor here was its mission ended. The young woman was the leader of a children’s society, and the next day she took for their lesson, “The True and the False,” and illustrated it by the beautiful calla lily as the true, and a paper imitation as the false. The little ones were delighted with the flower, and so remembered the lesson.

If we were more watchful we might oftener find opportunities to give small pleasures to others, and to pass those on which come to us; and if we were as pure and as true to God’s purpose as the beautiful white lily, we would, wherever we went, carry peace and joy and blessing, and so brighten others’ lives.

Kirkwood, Ill. L. M. STORMONT.