Menshould always put down after a statement of their deficiencies a statement of their possessions; thus: had no money, but heal mental power; had no external fame, but had great home repute; had no genius, but had great common sense; had no high connections of a social kind, but enjoyed easy access to heaven in prayer; had no earthly property, but was rich in ideas and impulses; was not at the head of a great circle of admirers, but was truly respected and trusted wherever known; had no health, but had great cheerfulness. Thus we must keep the two sides, so to say, parallel; if we have not one thing we have another. (J. Parker, D. D.)
The compensations of life
The disproportion in man’s inheritances is far less than we are prone to think. If one hand of the Universal Giver be closed, the other is expanded; no one is left without his need of compensation; only in our weakness and unthankfulness we look more at the darker side of our lot, and at what appears to us the brighter side of our neighbour’s. Epictetus explains the mystery in part: “It is not fortune that is blind, but ourselves.” Whatever be our lot, if man will but just concede that that must be best for him which the Best of Beings has ordained, life thenceforward has a solace which no fortune can wrest away. (Leo H. Grindon.)
