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CHAPTER
1
THE
INFLUENCE OF A LIFE
“Not
many lives, but only one, have we, One,
only one; How
sacred should that one life ever be, That
narrow span!” HAVE
you ever thought on the influence of a life? If not, try to realize the
marvelous power which by our lives we exert either for good or for evil on those
around us. It has been said that “every word man’s tongue hath uttered
echoes in God’s skies.” And in like manner the influence of our lives
reaches onward to eternity. Ah yes! to live for God is our work; and no human
being can say he has no influence. “Wherever
in the world I am, In
whatsoe’er estate, I
have a fellowship with hearts To
keep and cultivate, And
a work of lowly love to do For
the Lord, on whom I wait.” Dear
reader, this necessary element of power belongs to you. Your sphere may be
contracted; your influence may be small, but a sphere and influence you surely
have. No man can live unto himself. The meshes of a net are not more surely knit
together than man to man. We may forget this secret, silent influence; but we
are exerting it by our deeds, by our
words and by our very thoughts. And he is wise with a wisdom more than that of
earth who seeks to put forth the highest power for good, be his home a hut or a
hall, a cabin or a palace. Here
let me say, if you wish to be a blessing to others, ask God to bless and direct
you. Only feel that without him you can do nothing, and success will attend your
efforts to do whatever our duty. God loves to have us tell him every want and
care. “Now
in thy youth beseech of him Who
giveth and upbraideth not. That
his light in thy heart become not dim And
his love be unforgot, And
thy God, in the darkest of days, will be Greenness
and beauty and strength to thee.”
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