PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS.
By Avoline C. Miller
Patience indicates something to bear or endure. Where, if everything is to one's mind, is the test of our patience? It is easy to be patient when we can have everything our way. Patience takes things as they are, not as we would have them; not that soft ease that submits to everything, right or wrong, but which teaches us quietly to submit to or endure wrong beyond our control. We may think we are very patient while we and our families are well, and doing well; but let the tables turn; let sickness, poverty, reproach, unjust censure, and many ills which could be named, come upon us; these are the tests. If we can bear sickness and poverty without a murmur, reproach and unjust censure without feeling indignant self rising up, then may we hope that in this virtue at least we imitate Him who when he was reviled, reviled not again, and when he was reproached he suffered it.