| The Ministry of Comfort |
Chapter 22 |
Page 5 |
Very much of the unhappiness of human lives is caused, not by cruel wrongs which crush the heart, but by infinitesimal unkindnesses and irritations which fret and vex the spirit continually. A thoughtful woman says very truly: “Taking life through and through, the larger part of the sadness and heartache it has known has not come through its great sorrows, but through little needless hurts and unkindnesses; not so much through the orderings of providence as through the orderings of humanity. Look back and you can readily count up the great griefs and bereavements that have rent your heart and changed your life. You know what weary months they darkened. There was certain sacredness and dignity, like the dignity of lonely mountain tops, in their very greatness; and looking back, if not at the time, you can often understand their purpose. But, oh! The days that are spoiled by smaller hurts! Spoiled because somebody has a foolish spite, a wicked mood, an unreasonable prejudice, that must be gratified and have its way, no matter whose rights, plans, or hearts are hurt by it. There are so many hard places along the road for most of us, made hard needlessly by human selfishness, that the longing to be kind with a tender, thoughtful, Christlike kindness grows stronger in me each day I live.”
It is not expected of a child that he be always thoughtful – the lesson usually has to be learned, and the learning of it takes years and long experience. But when one has come to maturity, it is certainly time that at least one has begun to grow kind and considerate.
Not infrequently is a childish spirit manifested in societies and associations, where members are chosen to official places or appointed on committees, or shown other honours. There are likely always to be some among the number who keep in the best kind of mood while they are filling any position of honour or authority, but who cannot come down gracefully from the official rostrum when their term is ended. The descent from this elevated position to the level of common membership is too much for their measure of magnanimity. They act as if they felt that they should be continued in office indefinitely; and when some other one is chosen in turn to wear the honour which by the grace of their peers they have worn for a term, they take it as a personal matter and feel aggrieved. Sometimes they display their hurt feelings publicly; sometimes they say nothing, but go about afterward with a martyr like air, as if they were patiently enduring a wrong or an injury. In either case, they probably do not take an active part there after in the work of the organization, pouting sometimes the remainder of their days.
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