One of the family was a little lad who was weak-minded, and him the father and mother specially loved. Yet there was little response to their affection. But one day, when the other children were gathering flowers and bringing them to their parents, the poor little lad gathered a bundle of dry sticks and brought them to his father. “I valued those sticks,” said the father afterward, “far more than the fairest flowers.” We are not all equally gifted—some can bring lovely flowers to God’s service and honor; others can only gather dry sticks. But even the “cup of cold water” is accepted by Him. (Text.)
(1926)
LOVE’S CAREFULNESS
If I knew that a word of mine,
A word not kind and true,
Might leave its trace
On a loved one’s face,
I’d never speak harshly, would you?
If I knew the light of a smile
Might linger the whole day through