| The Best Things in Life |
Chapter 11 |
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That is not an impossible attainment for any sincere and earnest Christian. We cannot always be on our knees in the formal attitude of prayer. We have our duties, and we may not neglect them even for acts of devotion. This would not please our Master. We can conceive of occasions when prayer would not be the duty, when we ought to even to leave our altar and attend to some service of love that needs us. But we may always pray while we work. Our hearts may be in communion with God even when our hands are busiest in activities. We may talk with Christ while we are serving him. In whatsoever we do we may have Christ with us, and we may do all we do in his name. We do not have to leave our tasks in order to be with Christ. We may cultivate friendship with him in our busiest days.
If we would find the best that is in Christ, we must know him as a personal Friend. We are in danger of thinking that nothing counts in the Christian life but the activities; we must always be doing something, talking to somebody, holding meetings, making garments for the poor, relieving distress. But there is a better way. The disciples thought Mary had wasted her ointment when she had broken the vase and poured the precious nard on her Master’s head and feet. It had not done anybody any good. It had fed no hungry one, paid no one’s rent, put bread in no hungry mouth, and clothed no shivering child. They thought that using it only to honour a friend was a waste. But the truth is, that never before nor since, in the history of the world, was so much value put to more blessed use. Think how Mary’s loving deed comforted the Master, warmed his heart, and strengthened him for going to the cross. Then think how the telling of the story of her love has filled the world with sweet inspirations and gentle influences through all these centuries. Countless thousands have received impulses to lovely things through the story of Mary’s deed of affection. Thus the fragrant act of this quiet woman has started inspirations of love wherever the story has been told throughout the world.
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