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Miscellany: A Worrying Christian

Miscellany: A Worrying Christian image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
August
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Mr?. Smith and Mrs. Jopes were near neighbors and were much togother.though thcy were very unlike. Both were calle 1 goorl woinen," botli were membors of the orthodox church in "good standing" ct onc was respected and looked up to, while the other was nat. Tlic reason why Mrs. J. was not thought more of was thts- shc was ahvays in a worry about something or other. It seeined as if nothing was right in her house the weck in or the week out. Her husband would not come to his breakfast when it was re.idy ; or her ohildren would come down cross in the morning ; her girls would but half do their work ; no ono haJ huif so miny vextitions to "worry her lite out," aspoor Mrs. Jonos. One afternooa Mrs. Smith took hei knitting and f ah over to mako her a jieighborly visit and chat awhile. "Good anemoon," said she ; we have afineday, Mi", Jones. IIow do you do? l-Vel, ï dont know," replied Mrs Joncsu "I fcel pretty miserable." "Miserable? why, what about? wha i tlm mntter now ?""Why, evcry thing is so behind hand, hero it is almost Thanksgiving time, and 1 am not rcady for winter yet, and Í don't see as I ever shall be. My girls are not worth a cent to work. I don't believe thcre was ever a woman had so mucli to do as I have." "I guoss that is not so," said Mrs. SmUhwith a ploasant smile. "Well, yes. Yon to be sure have a large farhily, but somchow you get along and I don't." Mrs. Smilh had ofton tricd to explain this somehow but without sucecss. Slill she paticntly uttempted it again. uMy good neighbor,'1 said she, "let me teil you that you worry too ïnuch. It is not the way to get along. Worrying does not help, it only hinder What matter is it that your work ie not done the very hour that you meant to have it ; so that you make it square Saturday night ? You ought to be satisfied with this, but you scem to think that if a thing is not done to-day, it cannot possibly be done to-morrow. Ifyou do the very best you can, why should you not feel contented and even happy ! We are not required to do more than wc can do ; ours is not a hard M aster." "I am sure I work as hard as I can, Mrs. Smith.""I know t, and your sin is not n kaving undonc, but in feeling unhappy. - When you have gone just as far as you can go, then you worry and fret. thatyou caanot go farther. Now I think Ihat though God lias markcd out for us a life of toil, yet he did not intend it should be oneofwearing care, for he says plainly that we are to cast our care upon the Lord. I think, neighbor, ha m.eans ta have us do to-day, all which we can, and leave to-morrow till he gives it to us. I beievehe willgive us each our daily bread,ifwe are faiihíul, und induslrious and trust in Him." "You talk like a book, Mrs. Smith, and I believe all you say, too ; that is, it will do for you, but I am of a different make, and if Iknow thatathing must be done, why itstayson my mind, and worries me till it is done." "Now be honost with mo, neighbor, does this worrying help it along any 1 - Do you get through with it ono minute sooner ?" "I can'tsay that I do, Mrs. Smith, I do not think I do. "On the whole, then, Mrs. Jone, do you not think it hurts you - make3 you feel miserably, and sometimes takes away your appetite V' "Yes 1 know it docs," said Mrs. Jones very carnestly, "I would give anything if my family would got along as smoothly as yours," "Suppose that when thoy come home thcy always found yon cheerful and composed, insteadofbeing full of troublcs and vorrying, don't you think it would niaké a greatchange in tht-m ? I feel, Mrs. Jones, that as our sons are growing up now, wc cannot take too much pains to rnake a pleasant home for them, so that ve can keep tliem aronnd us as long as possible and withhold them f rom bad company.. It seemsto ine too that they will not believe that we put our trust in God as we profess to do, if they see us so overburdened with care and worried about the morrow." "You speuk very plainly tome, neighbor Smith.""Bccause, Mrs. Jones, I long to see you more cheerful anti trusting. 1 want to have you come out from these clouds, and when you have done all you can for your fainily, I want you shou'ld be willing io loave the rest with God. I wish lo see you ènjoying the comforts wliich our religión offers for this life, and I fcel there is no consolation here for wörrying Christians, for they make their own ïiserics." Mrs. Jones wept and resolved in her hetirt that sho would "turn over a new leaf."