The other side o f the beautiful life of the Messiah, while here on earth, is taught in these words: “The man of sorrow”; and just back of the majestic scene of the ascension and his being crowned in glory, lies the cross. The caldron of boiling oil is almost forgotten because of the life of the loving Apostle John. Behind Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is the old Bedford jail.
At a teachers’ and parents’ meeting a few months ago, I heard one of the teachers relate an incident of unusual interest, which reminded her audience that one’s unavoidable personal troubles and discouragements can be hidden away, insomuch that only a life of sunshine and usefulness will be visible.
During the summer months, while she was attending a teachers’ institute in another city, this teacher learned, she said, a beautiful lesson from the life of one of the lady instructors in the institute. This lady always seemed to be happy and had a pleasant smile for everyone. Day after day when she entered the schoolroom, there was something about her presence that brought a wave of encouragement, and her cheerful manner made others feel cheerful and happy, even under adverse circumstances. She was always in a pleasant mood.
The one who related the incident said that she often heard remarks among the attendants of the institute regarding the beautiful life of this instructor and the sweet influence that emanated from her daily and silently, as the flowing stream of sparkling waters. One day the speaker and another teacher, while in conversation, were wondering whence came such a flow of everlasting happiness and where was the source of such a lovely fountain. Surely there must be a secret about her life well worth knowing. They decided to make an effort to find out, if possible, so that they themselves might become partakers of such unceasing happiness. Accordingly, they agreed upon a time to make a call at her home.
At the appointed time they went, hoping that they should find her alone and also reach her home at a time when she would not be expecting visitors, and thereby learn whether or not her cheerfulness pervaded her home and home life as it did the schoolroom. When they reached her door and knocked, they thought they heard a noise within, then, all was silent. They gave another rap at the door, but all was silent within. They waited and waited, and finally concluded that she was not at home. As they were about to leave, they heard a noise in the room, and soon the door gently opened, and there she was with a lovely face beaming with sunshine and bearing the same sweet smile as before. As they entered, they were made to feel such a welcome that they at once made known the object of their visit. They noticed that her cheeks were stained with tears and that her eyes gave evidence that she had been weeping, but now this had all been cast aside and had given place to smiles, and her eyes sparkled with lovely rays of sunshine.
“We have become fascinated,” they said, “with your sweet life, your lovely disposition—always in a happy mood and the fragrance of your presence, which drives discouragements from others, and we concluded you must have one of the most lovely homes, one which so far excels the ordinary home that it causes you to be laden with a loveliness that lasts all day long. Therefore we have come to ask you to please explain to us the secret of your happiness, for we do not have in our lives as we see it portrayed in and through you. Will you tell us the secret of your life?”
The lady burst into tears, buried her face in her hands, and wept bitterly for some time. When she became composed, she said, “Oh, if I only knew that he is not suffering!” Then she wept and sobbed as if her heart would break. When she was again able to control her feelings and resume the conversation, she said:
“Once I had an ideal happy home, a devoted husband, who did everything possible to make our home what it should be, and the outlook very bright for a life of happiness together. One night he met with an accident in a train-wreck. His brain became affected by the fright or injury received, and he fled from the place in the darkness of the night, and I have never heard from him since that time. Whether or not he is suffering in some hospital for the insane, I do not know. Oh! It would be such a relief even to know that he is dead and thereby free from suffering. It almost breaks my heart. It is the dark shadow of my life. Upon my return from the schoolroom, when alone in my home, I give way to my grief and sorrow and sometimes spend hours in weeping and praying. If I only knew that he is at rest or free from pain, what a relief it would be to me! The burden has seemed too great to bear. It was evident that the world could not understand my grief and sorrows, therefore, I determined that they should never know them.
“In my desperation, I appealed to the God of heaven for help and consolation, with a decision that instead of my casting a shadow or gloom over the lives of others on account of my own troubles, there should be only a reflection of the Christ-life from my troubled heart, something that would throw rays of sunshine in their pathway. In other words, I would meet the world with a smile. To be able to accomplish this, I have prayed to the Lord to help me, and day by day He has comforted me in bearing my burdens and has given me grace and strength to go from my room with a light heart to cheer the lives of others. Now, you have the secret of my life.”
The sorrows and sadness in the life of this lady were not sufficient to cast a shadow dark enough to prevent the sunshine of loveliness and happiness from reaching the lives of others. The turning-point toward a life of usefulness is frequently some misfortune or sorrow of such enormity or depth and prolonged existence that one must decide to look upon the bright side of the situation with undaunted determination to be successful. It is then, that the prayers and petitions to the Almighty will become effectual and the heart of the humble person encouraged and uplifted and endued with strength to go forward in the performance of every duty. Everyone should be of good courage, remembering the words of the psalmist, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all they ways” (Psalms 91:1,11). [ The End ]