Our heav enly Father never takes any earthly thing from His children, unless He means to give them something better instead. GEORGE MUELLER

An easy thing, O Power Divine, To thank Thee for these gifts of Thine! For summer ’s sunshine, winter ’s snow , For hearts that kindle, thoughts that glow; But when shall I attain to this: To thank Thee for the things I miss?

For all young fancy’ s early gleams, The dr eamed-of joys that still ar e dreams, Hope unfulfilled, and pleasur es known Through others’ fortunes, not my own, And blessings seen that ar e not given, And ne’er will be—this side of heaven.

Had I, too, shar ed the joys I see, Would ther e have been a heaven for me? Could I have felt Thy pr esence near Had I possessed what I held dear?

My deepest fortune, highest bliss, Have gr own, per chance, fr om things I miss.

Sometimes ther e comes an hour of calm; Grief turns to blessing, pain to balm; A Power that works above my will Still leads me onwar d, upwar d still; And then my heart attains to this: To thank Thee for the things I miss.

THOMAS WENTWOR TH HIGGINSON

Instead of the dry land, springs of water! Instead of heaviness, the garment of praise! Instead of the thorn, the fir tree! Instead of the brier, the myrtle tr ee! Instead of ashes, beauty! (Isaiah 41:18; 55:13; 61:3)

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.—Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.—That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.

He is not ashamed to call them brethren.—Behold my mother and my brethren! Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.—Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father.

I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: . . . and white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.—That they without us should not be made perfect.