REVERIE | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 7, 1889

REVERIE.

In the dear old chamber at grandmother’s, and alone. Time, twilight; the day has been close and muggy; now a gentle breeze sways the leafy boughs overhead, and as I sit in the little old-fashioned rocker at the window, how my thoughts go wool-gathering! Back to the happy days of childhood, when life was all sunshine, and the future appeared so brilliant! And a dreamy, peaceful something whispers, Make the most of each moment; time flies, and wasted opportunities ne’er return. And a devout thankfulness to God fills my heart, for many things—just now for solitude. Often we most appreciate a congenial companion, truly we should; at other times nothing suffices but an hour all alone; it is fully as needful; but are we alone? Memory brings myriads of loved ones, gone on perhaps beyond the gates, but not forgotten; it may be that thoughts less kind crowd in upon us, for, alas! who has not regrets?

Dear heart, look not back upon the past, except it be to avoid like quicksands in the future.

In the last great day, when all alike may perchance see what the mistake of life has been, great the rejoicing of that soul who, not dwelling upon the things gone by, pressing forward with new courage and fresh life from the Giver of all good, marks a record in excellence surpassing all his first fond hopes. Take then the motto—only to-day—and waste no golden moments in regrets. A sincere prayer to the Father above will bring the needed strength when another sun rises, and “to-morrow” becomes “to-day.”—Christian at Work.