SHINE IN THE HOME

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 15, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 46.

SHINE IN THE HOME.

BE a light to all that are in the house. Shine where you live. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; that ye may . . . shine." Phil. 2:14, 15. Eat without faultfinding. Mend the torn garment without complaint. Go on the unpleasant errand without bewailing the necessity. Respond to the call for help cheerfully. Commend often; censure only when you must.

"Papa, I do try to do right; won't you please tell me sometimes when I please you?" a little girl said to her father, who was constantly correcting her.

The lights of kindness, gentleness, patience, and consideration should never go out. We should keep the light of a holy example always burning.

A boat went out to sea, carrying a father and a daughter. A terrible storm came up as they were hurrying back. The coast was dangerous. The mother lighted a lamp and started up the worn stairway to the attic window. "It won't do no good, mother," the son called after her. But the mother went up, put the light in the window, knelt beside it and prayed.

"It won't do no good, mother," the son called after her.

Out in the storm the daughter saw a glimmer of gold on the water's edge. "Steer for that," the father said. Slowly but steadily they came towards the light, and at last were anchored in the little sheltered harbor by the cottage.

"Thank God!" cried the mother, as she heard their glad voices and came down the stairway with the lamp in her hand. "How did you get here?" she said.

"We steered by mother's light," the daughter answered, "tho we did not know what it was out there."

"Ah!" thought the boy, a wayward boy, "it is time I was steering by my mother's light," and ere he slept he surrendered himself to God, and asked Him to guide him over life's rough sea.

Months went by and disease smote him. "He can not live long," was the verdict of the doctor; and one stormy night he lay dying. "Do not be afraid for me," he said as they wept; "I shall make the harbor, for I am steering by my mother's light."—Selected.