What can't be cured--
should be endured!
(Henrietta Wilson, "Little Things" 1852)
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast!"
Proverbs 15:15
There is a class of little annoyances
such as we make for ourselves by a
complaining, or an overly fastidious
temperament.
There are some who make such
a fuss about trifles, tormenting
themselves, and worrying others
by a perpetual fault-finding
and discontent--
as every trifling irritation
is magnified to a mountain--
that all pleasure is spoiled
by their presence!
It is a good rule in little things,
as well as great things, that
"what can't be cured--
should be endured"--
and endured cheerfully!
I am not advocating slovenly
and careless endurance of little
vexations which may be remedied--
let them be set right by all means, and
the more quietly as well as quickly,
the better. But I have observed
people who were most ludicrously
discomposed by trifles which neither
they nor anyone else could remedy, and
which should have been overlooked with
a smile, if noticed at all.
There are many overly finicky people
in the world, who groan over such
trifling irritations. It is really ludicrous
to hear the gravity with which some
people will allude to the fact of
the road being dusty, even alleging
that as a reason for not going a walk;
others are as much afraid of a shower;
others of too much sunshine; some are
terrified at the idea of being over-heated.
There is no end to these
idle fancies and fears!
If you laugh at these miserable people--
then they think you are unfeeling.
If you sympathize with them--
then they multiply and increase
their petty annoyances!
Let us all beware of making much
of little irritations. Let us learn to laugh
at them, remembering how very annoying
such complaints are to others, as well
as bothersome to ourselves.
A cheerful person who refuses to notice
trifles or be aggravated by them--
soon ceases to feel them!
While to those who seem to find
a perverse pleasure in dwelling on,
and being daunted by them--
these little discomforts will actually
become real cares, and will eat
out half the comfort of their lives!
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Proverbs 17:22
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GraceGems has published Henrietta Wilson's superb 25 page article,
"Little Things!" Must reading for those who have families!
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