It Might Be Worse by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 2, 1871

It Might Be Worse.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

HOWEVER sad our lot is, it might be worse; and if we would only look on it in this way, it would often relieve us much, even fill us with thankfulness and joy. We all have more or less to suffer in this world; and each one is apt to think that his case is a peculiarly hard one, that he could bear anything better than just what he has to bear. A good way to get over this feeling is to look around, and see what misery there is in the world.

Here is a poor woman with a large family and a miserable drunken brute for a husband. To him she is tied for life. There is no earthly hope for her. Poverty and rags, shame and disgrace, are her portion. Tears, regrets, wishes—nothing will relieve her. Once life was all hope and sunshine to her. But suddenly her sun went down, nevermore to rise. Oh! what a lot! Yet hundreds of thousands are experiencing it while I write. Dear reader, your case is not so bad as that. It might be worse.

Here is a poor widow with several children dependent upon her efforts for their support, their daily bread. She must work early and late; and with all her might. She must rent the cheapest garret or cellar, and live on the poorest and scantiest food that will support life. The smallest luxury she can never indulge in. Perhaps she fails to get work, or becomes sick. Then starvation threatens herself and children. Who can imagine the anguish of that mother's heart. Are any of us in as bad a case as this? Yet there are thousands in just this condition this moment. Here is a young lady with her face all burned to a crisp. What a terrible calamity to bear all through life! Would you exchange your trouble for this?

When we feel like murmuring and repining, we would do well to stop and carefully think of all the misery around us. The world is full of it. Is it strange that we are called to bear a small part of this? The trouble is, we are apt to forget the ten thousand blessings we are daily enjoying, and think only of the unpleasant things we have to bear. Then, on the other hand, we forget, or overlook, or do not know, the griefs which others have to bear, while we see and covet all the blessings they seem to have.

Reader, is this your case? It has been mine; but the more I see and know of life, the more I am satisfied that there are but few contented and satisfied hearts. Each one has some grief of his own of which others know nothing. And this is often hidden under smiles, and covered by the appearance of mirth and pleasure. Truly has the wise man said, “The heart knoweth his own bitterness.” Prov. 14: 10. Rich houses will not shut it out, fine clothes will not smother it, beauty will not exclude it, nor talent drown it. There is one, and only one, effectual remedy for it. That is the hope of Heaven. Thank God! this may be equally enjoyed by all, high or low, rich or poor. Without this blessed hope, all is vanity and vexation of heart. D. M. CANRIGHT.