MORNING MANNA              10-20-24

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 other 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 never 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 was 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.

The lesson is for all of us, especially for young people who seem born with more than their share of disadvantages, limitations, hard conditions. God gave them this heavy load, whatever it is, to make something of them. The deformity, the burden, the weight of some other one’s need laid upon the shoulder, the inheritance of difficulty which seems to be a hindrance to a worthy life—is but another opportunity to grow, to become stronger, richer-hearted, more a man or a woman, to win a higher place in life, and a brighter crown in glory!

In any case, we should never give place to discouragement for a moment! If we are God’s children, we have only to keep ourselves in God’s hands, and keep our own hands off; then, out of the sorest difficulties and the hardest conditions, blessings will come. God lives, and is caring for us. Author unknown