Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 8, 15 September 1944, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatnne Ministers' Association).

THE MINISTRY OF MEMORY

Let memory have its Avay, "It is a minis'ter of God." This is an arresting thought. What memories, will our children carry into their adult 3 T ears? Many of our readers are indebted to Fay Inchfawn for help and inspiration. The following extract copied from the "Woman's Magazine" gives, us a peep at. her background and causes us to think ? again of the power of a Christian home: "The transition from a country house to a suburban dwelling had its trying side. The new garden w T as pitifully small. Other houses were overpoweringly near. But there were advantages. My mother who on account of ill-health had felt c o isolated found herself able to be "in * things again and each Lord's Day found the family in an unfamiliai meeting house, it is. true, but with many old friends around them . . . My father deprived of his garden found occupation, and pleasure in finding out what could be done with a small border. He, was so far suc-< eessful that Bunty. who was still a email child paused one day at the gate; and surveying it critically, said with conviction: 'This is, the best garden in the road/ a remark which gave great satisfaction to the gardener. It has been said of us that, as a body of Christians we are too fond of placarding lurid texts in public places—"Prepare to meet thy God "Flee from the wrath to come" — may in the mercy of God have been used to arrest the careless, although

this sudden button-holing of a personality, whether by the spoken or the printed word seems to me likely to arouse antagonism, and has become a subject of foolish jesting.

But my father, who was so shy, so retiring, so inarticulate had a * 9 text written on parchment and fixed to the lattice-work close to his front door. I cannot imagine any passerby being hurt and offended by it. Some mighty and probably smile at the naivete of a householder who in these materialistic days could set up such a statement.

But. others were glad of its re-; minder, and rejoiced in its truth. For this was the text, 'The Lord is good, stronghold in the, day of trouble; and He knowetb them that trust in Him.'

Strangers, reading it sometimes asked if such a verse really was in the Bible, and if so. where? Tramps asking for alms t) pointed to it, and many professed faith in it.

The, milkman constanly referred to it, and presently around that text

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

grew up series of experiences. An unknown reader oi' my books who called to sec me in my rather'.'? house, wrote to me afterwards a letter which warmed my heart. 'That, text at the door,' she said, 'just set the keynote of whole thing. I had to tell my children all about it from the first word to the last. I loved your mother with her young lace and her beautiful *vhite haii\ and your father is just like one of the prophets. ... I have never S'Cen anyone just like him.' Up till then I do not think I had realised that he was taking his place among the veterans. He was. becoming one of the old brigade. In manner lie had always been staid. His speech was always restrained. He had drilled us thoroughly in the fine art of using suitable, words. He hated extravagant expressions; would never suffer us- to call food "beautiful," nor to say we "loved" a favourite dish. That, he declared, was an improper use of two great words>. . . . His, garden was gay with crocuses and scillas when he and my mother kept their golden wedding. We all went home on that day, and had our quiet rejoicings together. The house was full of nodding daffodils; there was a bridal bouquet of white roses and scented lillies. ... From our ancient album their children had by stealth removed Dhotograohs- of those two taken just before their marriage. These they had had mounted and framed in gold, and beneath in neat lettering were these words "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for-* ever." As that anniversary passed my father kept recalling incidents of his wedding day. "Just noiw we were starting." "Just about now we were coming home in the carriage." And a little later. "We should have been going away just round about this time." Later, as evening came on and we sat together round the fire, first one and then another of their spiritual kinsfolk came in to see. the bride and bridegroom. And then, because the day would have been unfinished and immature without it the Book was opened and there was reading and there was thanksgiving. Looking back upon that day it seems to me to be representative of the wedded life it commemorated. Simplicity was its note from start to finish. Only those of the inner circle entered into it at all. Its key-? note was an acknowledgment of Him Whose name is< Merciful and GraciWhose, goodness, follows all of us, all the days of our lives."