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Faithful in the Little Things of Life, June 17
Roads to Happiness That Are Never Closed
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines.
Song of
Solomon 2:15
In many ways life’s happiness is bound up with the faithfulness of
common duties.
It is the neglect of the littles, the trifles, that poisons life’s happiness.
A faithful performance of the littles composes the sum of happiness to
be realized in this life. He that is faithful in little is faithful also in much.
He that is unfaithful or unjust in small matters will be in greater matters.
Until you can cheerfully and happily take up these duties you are not
fitted for greater and higher duties. The humble tasks before us are to be
taken up by someone; and those who do them should feel that they are
doing a necessary and honorable work, and that in their mission, humble
though it may be, they are doing the work of God just as surely as was
Gabriel when sent to the prophets.
It is the little things of life that develop the spirit in men and women
and determine the character.... In words, in tones, in gestures, in looks,
you can represent the spirit of Jesus. He who neglects these little things,
and yet flatters himself that he is ready to do wonderful things for the
Master, will be in danger of failing altogether. Life is not made up of
great sacrifices and wonderful achievements, but of little things.
Examine under the microscope the smallest and commonest of way-
side blossoms, and note in all its parts the exquisite beauty and com-
pleteness. So in the humblest lot true excellence may be found; the
commonest tasks, wrought with loving faithfulness, are beautiful in
God’s sight.
The little attentions, the small acts of love and self-sacrifice, that
flow out from the life as quietly as the fragrance from a flower—these
constitute no small share of the blessings and happiness of life.
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