'His crippled leg God's gift!

His crippled leg God's gift!

A Christian physician, whose career has been full of faith and noble ministry, gives this experience. He was a poor boy, and a cripple! One day he was watching some boys on the ball-field. They were active, strong and wealthy. As he looked on, his heart grew bitter with envy.

A young man who stood beside him noted the discontent on his face, and said to him, "You wish you were in those boys' place, don't you?"

"Yes, I do," was the answer.

"I reckon God gave them money, education and health," continued the young man, "to help them to be of some account in the world. Did it ever strike you," he continued, after a moment's pause, "that He gave you your lame leg for the same reason — to make a man of you?"

The boy gave no answer, and turned away. He was angry — but he did not forget the words. His crippled leg God's gift! To teach him patience, courage, perseverance! To make a man of him! He thought of the words until he saw their meaning. They kindled hope and cheer, and he determined to conquer his hindrance. He grew heroic.

He soon learned that what was true of his lame leg, was true also of all the difficulties, hindrances, and hard conditions of his life — they were all God's gifts to him to help him to be of some account in the world — to make a man of him!

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word." Psalm 119:67

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Psalm 119:71

"I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75

The suffering of a child transformed all the household

It is one of the blessings of pain or suffering, that it softens hearts, and woos out gentleness and kindness.

There was once a whole family in the slums which was completely changed through the influence of a deformed child who became the angel of the home . The father was a drudge; the lads were coarse and crude; and the mother, overworked and far from strong, had fallen into untidy habits.

But a crippled child was born into that home, and it was the means of drawing out the sympathy, love and tenderness of the whole family. The father nursed and petted his child in the evenings; the boys made playthings for her, and showed their affection in all sorts of pleasant ways; the mother kept the window clean, that her child, pillowed on the table, might look out on the court.

Thus a large and blessed ministry of kindness, was inspired by what seemed a misfortune. The suffering of a child transformed all the household , making each heart gentler, more thoughtful, more unselfish.

It is often so. Many a sweet home owes most of its sweetness to a quiet, patient sufferer, whose pain has been the messenger of God to soften hearts and enrich common lives with love and tenderness.

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