| Garden of the Heart |
Chapter 11 |
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Some of us would like to choose for ourselves our place of witnessing. It is easy to rise among Christian people on a quiet Sunday and say, “I am a Christian, too.” But it may be harder to stand up tomorrow among those who do not love Christ and say the same words. A young man finds himself the only Christian in the office where he works. He shrinks from showing his colours there. But he is the only one Christ has in that office. If he should fail to witness for his Master in the presence of the men who are there they will fail to hear about Christ, perhaps will be lost for want of a word, and the blame will be his. Christ knows where He needs us and our service, and we should never fail Him wherever we are.
We do not know the harm we may do any day by our failure to speak the word our Master wants us to speak. We are often warned of the hurt our careless words may give to a gentle heart. We should beware also of careless silences when weary ones need the cheer, the comfort, the kindness we could speak. Many of our worst failures as witnesses for Christ are in not doing the things we ought to have done.
“I might have said a word of cheer
Before I let him go.
His weary vision haunts me yet;
But how could I foreknow
That slighted chance would be the last
To me in mercy given?
My utmost yearnings cannot send
That word from earth to heaven.
“I might have looked the love I felt;
My brother had sore need
Of that for which–too shy or proud,–
He laced the speech to plead.
But self is near and self is strong,
And I was blind that day;
He sought within my careless eyes
And went, athirst, away.
“O word and look and clasp withheld!
O brother-heart now stilled!
Dear life, forever out of reach,
I might have warmed and filled!
Talents misused and seasons lost,
O’er which I mourn in vain–
A waste as barren to my tears
As desert sands to rain.”
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