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TO LONELY SISTERS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 24, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 8.

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TO LONELY SISTERS.

By H. M. VAN SLYKE

Though I rejoice that God has called me out of the darkness into his marvellous light, I feel to look back to days of despondency, hoping thereby to encourage some one who may be cast out for the truth’s sake. To such, I need not describe the keen anguish that often pierces the soul, but I will simply relate how I was rebuked for ingratitude.
I was on my lonely way to our Sabbath meeting, three miles or more distant. I felt that my life was of no use, that it were better to die than to live if such was only the will of the Lord. Soon my attention was arrested by a neglected cornfield, full of weeds, so that it was covered with a profusion of flowers. “What a pity!” I said to myself, almost aloud, “they are of no use, and are anything but handsome.” I passed on, busy with other thoughts, until I came to a low and lonely place. To me it appeared more dreary than ever before, but close by my path stood one weed, all alone, with bright green foliage and bent with rich blossoms. I thought “How lovely! because it is alone how cheery it makes this dismal place.”
And the dear Lord by his Spirit helped me to draw consolation and courage therefrom. I reasoned thus: As the world goes, I have nothing to recommend me; but if the Lord has called me to be a light set in a dark place, in the moral darkness of a sinful world, so let me live. If I may bring courage to some desponding one as this simple weed has to me, I will not think my life to be vain. I will thank God for his providence; and my lonely home shall be a very Bethel.
My dear sisters, we are transplanted into the kingdom and patience of God’s dear Son. We have come out from the world, and the world does not love us. But as the dews of heaven refresh the lowliest plants, so the Spirit of the Lord will nourish the vine of his planting. Let us look up; for the day of our redemption draweth nigh.
H. M. VAN SLYKE.
Hamilton, Mo.