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Silken Cords of Affection, September 18
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
.
The principle inculcated by the injunction, “Be kindly affectioned
one to another” (
Romans 12:10
), lies at the very foundation of domestic
happiness.
Unkindness, complaining, and anger shut Jesus from the dwelling. I
saw that angels of God will flee from a house where there are unpleasant
words, fretfulness, and strife.
Gentle manners, cheerful conversation, and loving acts will bind the
hearts of children to their parents by the silken cords of affection and
will do more to make home attractive than the rarest ornaments that can
be bought for gold.
Tender affection should ever be cherished between husband and wife,
parents and children, brothers and sisters. Every hasty word should be
checked, and there should not be even the appearance of the lack of love
one for another.... Children are to respect and reverence their parents,
and parents are to manifest patience, kindness, and affection for their
children. Each one should seek in every possible way to please and
make happy the members of the family circle.
Acts of kindness.... will bind hearts together, and will draw them
closer to the heart of Him from whom every generous impulse springs.
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.
Oh, what rays of softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of
our Saviour! What sweetness flowed from His very presence! The same
spirit will be revealed in His children. Those with whom Christ dwells
will be surrounded with a divine atmosphere. Their white robes of purity
will be fragrant with perfume from the garden of the Lord. Their faces
will reflect light from His, brightening the path for stumbling and weary
feet.
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