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Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

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Chapter 118—Sympathy at HomeDear Bro<strong>the</strong>r and Sister C,Your cases have been brought be<strong>for</strong>e me in vision. As I viewedyour lives, <strong>the</strong>y appeared to be a terrible mistake. Bro<strong>the</strong>r C, you havenot a happy temperament. And not being happy yourself, you fail to [695]make o<strong>the</strong>rs happy. You have not cultivated affection, tenderness, andlove. Your wife has suffered all through her married life <strong>for</strong> sympathy.Your married life has been very much like a desert—but very few greenspots to look back upon with grateful remembrance. It need not havebeen thus.Love can no more exist without revealing itself in outward actsthan fire can be kept alive without fuel. You, Bro<strong>the</strong>r C, have feltthat it was beneath your dignity to manifest tenderness by kindly acts,and to watch <strong>for</strong> an opportunity to evince affection <strong>for</strong> your wife bywords of tenderness and kind regard. You are changeable in yourfeelings, and are very much affected by surrounding circumstances.You have not felt that it was wrong, displeasing to God, to allowyour mind to be fully engrossed with <strong>the</strong> world, and <strong>the</strong>n bring yourworldly perplexities into your family, thus letting <strong>the</strong> adversary intoyour home. It is very easy <strong>for</strong> you thus to open <strong>the</strong> door, but you willfind it not so easy to close; it will be very difficult to turn out <strong>the</strong> enemywhen once you have brought him in. Leave your business cares andperplexities and annoyances when you leave your business. Come toyour family with a cheerful countenance, with sympathy, tenderness,and love. This will be better than expending money <strong>for</strong> medicines orphysicians <strong>for</strong> your wife. It will be health to <strong>the</strong> body and strength to<strong>the</strong> soul. Your lives have been very wretched. You have both acteda part in making <strong>the</strong>m so. God is not pleased with your misery; youhave brought it upon yourselves by want of self-control.You let feelings bear sway. You think it beneath your dignity,Bro<strong>the</strong>r C, to manifest love, to speak kindly and affectionately. All<strong>the</strong>se tender words, you think, savor of softness and weakness, and areunnecessary. But in <strong>the</strong>ir place come fretful words, words of discord,637

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