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TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Home Ideals (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 31. The Real Test.
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The Real Test.
The home is the impress of the character of those living there. Or, it could be put better by saying, the impress of the one in the home who dominates it. You press your thumb firmly down on a lump of moist clay, and as you lift it away, the clay contains a faithful imprint of the thumb; both the whole face of the thumb, and every line are plainly indented there. Just so the home is the impress of those living there; and particularly of the one who is the dominant character there. Usually that is the mother. More rarely it is the father, who, maybe half-unconsciously, dominates the mother, and through her the home. Sometimes it is an older daughter; more rarely a son; sometimes some other one.
It is an impression given unconsciously. It is given by what we are. The way to make a home what it should be is, first of all, for the homemaker to be that in himself. If a home is to be pure in its life, strong in its purpose, orderly in its arrangement, rhythmic in its habit, restful in its spirit, inspiring in its uplift, the dominating personality of the home must be all of that in himself. The home can never be more than its maker; and it never will be less. You don't really know a man or woman until you know his home, for it is the impress of him. What it is, he is. He must be brought to this standard to have his real character known.
The real test of a man's life is his home life. It is not in what his lips say, nor in what his church profession may be, but in what he is, and in what he is in the one place where his life comes out most plainly, the home. If there be a seamy side, it will surely stick uglily out here. If there be a sweet masterful keeping of the seams out of existence, so far as the eyes can see, it will be felt here. Character is not revealed best by public service, nor church activities, nor the righting of public evils, invaluable as all of this is. The real man may be found only at home. You don't know a man's character until you know his home life.
A Scottish missionary, home on furlough from her work in India, told this story. She had been teaching a group of children one day, telling them the story of Jesus, bringing out, bit by bit, incidents showing His character. As she was talking one child, listening intently, grew excited, and then more excited. At last she was unable to restrain herself, and blurted eagerly out: "I know him; he lives near us."
Was there ever such praise of a human? Have any of us ever been taken or mistaken for Jesus? When the homefolks begin to wonder in their secret hearts if it can possibly be that Jesus is back, living in you, in disguise, the sweetest victory of His grace will be told.