Out of its bitterness

Our "thorn" may either be a blessing to us — or it may do us irreparable harm — depending on our attitude towards it.

If we allow our thorn to fret us;

if we chafe, resist, and complain about it;

if we despond and lose heart

— then it will spoil our life.

But if we accept it in the faith that . . .

in its ugly burden, it has a blessing for us;

if we endure it patiently, submissively, unmurmuringly;

if we seek grace to keep our heart gentle and true amid all the trial, temptation, and suffering it causes —

then it will work good, and out of its bitterness will come sweet fruit!

We should so relate ourselves to "our thorn" that growth and good, not harm and marring — shall come to us from it.