All of life's lessons

"First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens." Mark 4:28

Just so, all of life's lessons are slowly learned. It is the work of years to school our . . .

wayward wills — into uncomplaining submissiveness;

our hard, proud, selfish hearts — into soft, gentle thoughts,

and our harsh, chattering tongues — into sweet, gracious speech.

The natural process of spiritual growth is first the blade, then the heads, then the ripened grain — and these developments require time.

We cannot have the wheat bud, blossom, and ripen — all in one day.

We must be content to learn the great lessons of life very slowly.