Food for Thought

This weeks’ Food for thought comes from author Jr. Miller:

At first, we would say that a home into which no sorrow has ever come is the happiest home.  It has only had prosperity.  It is a Christian home too and has all the blessings of faith.  It is a home of love ideal in its friendship, but it has never known a sorrow.  The circle is unbroken, no tears have ever been shed in it.  We would say that this is the happiest home we know but it takes sorrow to perfect love's happiness.  

There is little doubt that the sweetest home is one in which there has been grief.  We do not find the richest things in the Bible until we pass into shadows.  We do not see the stars until night comes.  There's no rainbow save when there are clouds.  We do not find out the sweetest love even of our human friends when we are strong and well and prosperous.

It is only when we are in some grief or trouble that we discover how much they love us and we do not get the best of God's grace until we are in sorrow.  Besides, grief softens our hearts makes us capable of affection and sympathy, and draws us nearer to each other.  After a household has stood together around the coffin of one of its own, it is a new tenderness that unites the members.  Suffering together brings a new closeness in loving.  Thus even sorrow may be put among the elements of home happiness.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.