Fon all the Fn
CHEER SOMEBODY TODAY
‘By MRS. VARNER J. JOHNS
The greatest of all joys in this
world is the happiness of making
others happy. Surely this is the
mission of every Christian. Such an
experience reacts upon ourselves.
How true is the saying: “Those who
bring sunshine to the lives of others
cannot keep it from themselves.”
Did you ever stand en the street
corner in a large city, waiting to meet
a friend, and study the faces of those
who pass by? Some were sad, few
were glad; some were hard and cruel
in expression, others looked sick, as
though thev ‘would never pass that
way another day. If you have been
with Jesus, you can bring a ray of
sunshine from the Light, that dispels
all darkness and despair. The smile,
the words spoken, the tone of voice,
the facial expression, and even our
verv presence can bring cheer
and lift a load from another.
Here is a quotation from that mar-
velous little book Steps to Christ
(pocket ed.), page 120: “By our un-
conscious influence others may be en-
couraged and strengthened, or thev
may be discouraged, and repelled
from Christ.” 1 think of a woman I
once knew, a member of the same
church to which I belonged, who told
we. that she loved to sit in church
where she could see the happy and
jovous face of a certain sister—it
brought courage to her soul.
The wise man tells of the value of
cheerfulness (see Prov. 17:22; Prov.
15:13). Ow words spoken in due
season can be as honeycomb; sweet to
the soul. and health ito the bones
(Prov. 15:23, 26; 16:24). A certain
woman was said to radiate health.
Upon one oceasion when she was call-
ing upon a: sick friend who wanted
nothing to do with her. religion, the
patient introduced her to her
doctor as the “sunshine lady”. “The
religion of Jesus Christ gives peace
‘ike a river . . ... If does not restrain
cheerfulness, nor cloud the. sunny,
smiling face.” — Ybid., p: 121
There are just two sides of life
6
the dark and troubled side and the
bright and sunny side. Upon which
side do you choose to dwell? Are
vou walking in darkness, misrepre-
senting your Saviour and your reli-
gion, or are vou on the sunny side,
scattering sunshine? “Christians whe
gather up gloom and sadness to their
souls, and murmer and complain, are
giving to others a false representation
of God and the Christian life. They
“p Word That's Kind’
If 1 shall speak a word that's kind,
Upon life's weary road,
Or help the wayworn traveler
To carry part his load,
Or could | smooth a fevered brow
Bent low with care and pain,
I'm sure my life, as 1 go on,
Shall not have been in vain.
—Margaret La Gourgue
give the impression that God is “not
pleased to have His children happy.”
_ Ibid, p. 116. I once heard a
Yittle verse that ran something like
this:
“If you talk about vour troubles
And tell them oer and der,
The world will think you-like ‘em
And proceed to give you more.”
If we dwell upon the sunny side,
there we will find Jesus, the light of
the world. Even amid trials and per-
plexities we can still abide in the
light of His love, in His divine pre-
sence. 1 once had a ‘very sweet
neighbor who was very ill. He: face
was alwavs wreathed with smiles in
spite of her pain. She ever dwelt in
the light and love of her Saviour. All
who came to cheer her left that sick-
room cheered themselves, with a
brighter hove and courage to face the
future. Sometimes I wonder whether
those with the greatest troubles aren’t
those with the lergest faith and bright-
est hope. Spurgeon once said, “He
who climbs above the cares of this
world. and turns his face to. his God
has found the svnny side of life.”
© A discouraged soul not only casts
a shadow ‘across the pathway of
others but also shuts out the light of
heaven from his own soul. Are you
living a self-centered life or are you
living for others and for your Saviour?
Have vou cver noticed the sun-
flower, how it faces the sun? It actu-
ally follows the sun, until at the close
of the dav it faces the west. In less
than an hour after sunrise it has turn-
ed eastward, again to repeat its dailv
course. The sun puts the blush. in
the rose and paints with delicate hues
the tiniest of the flowers of the field.
Likewise, . the Sun of Righteousness
will send His rays of light to make
our lives beautiful and fragrant with
deeds of ove and sympathy.
Our hope is in Christ—His life,
His death, ‘and resurrection. There
is no hope ‘outside of Him. His res-
urrection, a chicf cornerstone in the
Christian faith, gives us confidence
that if we ‘die, we shall live again.
Jesus will come to break the bands of
the tomb and ‘take His children home
with Him. What a glad reunion that
will be when our loved ones come from
their dusty beds and we all meet
together with Jesus in the clouds at
His second coxing (1 Thess. 4:13—18;
I Cor. 15:51—55). That hope. brings
us comfort and cheer, which cannot
Le taken from us.
“Rich and abundant are the prom-
ises made to those who are watch-
ful of opportunities to bring joy and
blessing into +he lives of others.” —
Prophets and Kings, p. 327.
Friend, what is your life? Have
vou taken time to look up todav and
by faith behold Jesus, vour Friend?
Are you bringing hope and cheer to
. vour downegst neighbors and friends?
Have you taken time to look about
vou to find someone worse off than
vourself? Have you taken time to prav
to ddy and to study Gods Word?
Only as we look to Jesus, keepingiour
eves fixed on Him. can we:succeed.
We have in our possession that balm
which, administered in love and
sympathy, will heal the brokenhearted
and bring: hope and courage and: life
eternal. . Are we sharing that jov-and
love with those who are- dwelling: in
darkness? — Review  & Herald
MESSENGER