Character and Conduct – 27 August – Love and Remorse

WE should get a lesson in friendship’s ministry.   Too many wait until those they love are dead, and then bring their alabaster boxes of affection and break them.   They keep silent about their love when words would mean so much, would give such cheer, encouragement, and hope, and then, when the friend lies in the coffin, their lips are unsealed and speak out their glowing tribute on ears that heed not the laggard praise.   Many persons go through life, struggling bravely with difficulty, temptation, and hardship, carrying burdens too heavy for them, pouring out their love in unselfish serving of others, and yet are scarcely ever cheered by a word of approval or commendation, or by delicate tenderness of friendship;  then, when they lie silent in death, a whole circle of admiring friends gathers to do them honour.   Every one remembers a personal kindness received, a favour shown, some help given, and speaks of it in grateful words.   Letters full of appreciation, commendation, and gratitude are written to sorrowing friends.   Flowers are sent and piled about the coffin, enough to have strewn every hard path of the long years of struggle.   How surprised some good men and women would be, after lives with scarcely a word of affection to cheer their hearts, were they to awake suddenly in the midst of their friends, a few hours after their death, and hear the testimonies that are falling from every tongue, the appreciation, the grateful words of love, the rememberings of kindness!   They had never dreamed in life that they had so many friends, that so many had thought well of them, that they were helpful to so many.

Personal Friendships of Jesus, J. R. MILLER

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These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing them here readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.