Chapter 7—Practical Lessons from Nature’s Book
God’s Voice in His Handiwork—Wherever we turn, we hear the
voice of God and behold His handiwork. From the solemn roll of the
deep-toned thunder and old ocean’s ceaseless roar, to the glad songs
that make the forests vocal with melody, nature’s ten thousand voices
speak His praise. In earth and sea and sky, with their marvelous tint
and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or blended in harmony, we
behold His glory. The everlasting hills tell of His power. The trees
that wave their green banners in the sunlight, and the flowers in their
delicate beauty, point to their Creator. The living green that carpets
the brown earth tells of God’s care for the humblest of His creatures.
The caves of the sea and the depths of the earth reveal His treasures.
He who placed the pearls in the ocean and the amethyst and chrysolite
among the rocks is a lover of the beautiful. The sun rising in the
heavens is a representative of Him who is the life and light of all that
He has made. All the brightness and beauty that adorn the earth and
light up the heavens speak of God.
Shall we, then, in the enjoyment of His gifts, forget the Giver? Let
them rather lead us to contemplate His goodness and His love. Let all
that is beautiful in our earthly home remind us of the crystal river and
green fields, the waving trees and living fountains, the shining city and
the white-robed singers, of our heavenly home—that world of beauty
which no artist can picture, no mortal tongue describe. “Eye hath not
[54]
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
1 Corinthians
2:9
Of God’s Love and Character—Mothers ... should not be so
engrossed with the artificial and burdened with care that they cannot
have time to educate their children from God’s great book of nature,
impressing their young minds with the beauties of opening buds and
flowers. The lofty trees, the lovely birds caroling forth their happy
songs to their Creator, speak to their senses of the goodness, mercy,
1
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 54, 55
.
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