| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 19 |
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A like lesson Jesus teaches from the flowers. God clothes the lilies in loveliness far surpassing any adornment which the finest skill of art can produce. We are better than flowers. They live but for a day, and their rich beauty fades. They are lovely, but there is no soul in them, and they have no future. If our Father lavishes so much beauty on perishing plants, is there any ground for fear that He will not clothe His own dear children? Like the lily, we should grow into sweet beauty wherever God places us, not complaining, not vexing ourselves with anxious care, fulfilling God’s purpose and doing God’s will.
Another of the reasons Jesus gives why we should not worry is the uselessness of it. We cannot by being anxious about our height, for example, make ourselves any taller. We cannot by worry change the colour of our hair—unless it be that we vex ourselves until our hair becomes grey. When we think of it, a great deal of the worrying that is so common is over matters that we have no power to change. There is much fretting about the weather. There are many people who never get it just as they want it. They are always complaining and finding fault. But who ever heard of such fretting changing the weather? It were better far just to accept it as it comes, and be cheerful whichever way the wind blows, and whether it be hot or cold, rainy or dry.
There are many people whose condition in life disappoints them. They are poor and have to work hard to provide for their families. They have troubles and trials. They meet difficulties. Sometimes one can change one’s circumstances by making an earnest effort. That is right. God wants us to make the most of our life. He would not have us live on in unpleasant conditions which with a little energy and taste we might transform into comfort. If the roof leaks, we ought to mend it. If the fence is broken and our neighbour’s cattle get into our garden, we ought to repair the fence. If the chimney smokes, we ought to have the flues cleaned out. There are many worries of this class which we ought to have sense enough to cure for ourselves without vexing our souls with worry over them.
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