| Things to Live For |
Chapter 1 |
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Some good people become discouraged because they do not seem to get on in life. They work hard, but can scarcely make ends meet. As fast as they earn, they must spend. A father toils through the years, bringing up a family, and dies at last a poor man. Other men who began with him as boys succeed and grow rich. He feels that he has failed. But consider what he has really achieved. To begin with, work itself is one of life’s best blessings. This man’s years of daily task work have built up in him many of the best qualities of true, worthy character, – promptness, accuracy, faithfulness, patience, persistence, obedience. Work, too, has given him health, has kept him from many an evil, has knit in him thews of strength, has wrought in him a spirit of self reliance and independence.
Consider, too, the value of his work to his family. He has provided a home for his household where the wife and mother has presided with love and gentleness. Through his toil he has furnished means for the education of his children. In his own life he has set them an example of honesty, truthfulness, unselfishness, diligence, and faith. Dwelling himself near the heat of Christ, he has made in his home an atmosphere of heavenliness in which his family has grown up. He has taught them the word of God, and has given them books to read which have put into their minds and hearts pure, inspiring, and elevating thoughts. One by one they go out of their father’s house to become influential in building up home of their own, carrying with them and in them a heritage of character which shall make them blessings in the world.
Though this good man leaves no money and no monument of material success, yet his life has been well worth while. He has given to the world something better than money. He has shown it an example of a true and faithful life, in conditions that were not always inspiring. He has maintained in it a godly home, keeping the fires burning on God’s altar, and putting into the lives of his household the influences of religion. He has trained his children, and sent them forth to be useful members of society, new centres of good influence, new powers for righteousness. His name may be forgotten among men, but the benediction of his life and work will stay in the world forever.
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