In long past years the big man was the fellow who bossed the job.--He
was called the ruler, the magistrate.
To-day, especially since Jesus, the big man is the minister.--I do not
mean the preacher in your church, but the man who gets down beside the
people and serves them. You know "minister" is a Latin word that means
"servant." Every one who tries to serve other people is a minister. He
is the biggest man everywhere. The biggest word to-day is "Service."
There were four letters in the war that were very touching to me,
C.A.S.C.--The Canadian Army Service Corps.
They worked for everybody. They were supply centres. The army never
could have done its work without them. They were worth all the honour
could be given them, because they were the army helpers.
Oh, if everybody would only help, what a happy world this would be!
Most of our troubles are because we want to be helped. It makes us
selfish and jealous and mean and grabby.
The war came from it--nations seeking to get.
School is made unhappy by it. It spoils play and games and dinner
tables and Sunday Schools and churches and lives.
God serves and nature serves. Parents and teachers serve.
Why don't you? What do you want to be always getting for?
A small boy once put a note by his mother's plate, and when she came to
breakfast, she found a bill.
"Mother, in account with Jack."
--To going messages .................. $1.00
" carrying coal ................... .50
" cutting the grass ............... .75
" gathering eggs and chopping wood 1.00
------
Total ................... $3.25
The dear mother never said a word, but left the bill on the table. Next
morning a note was at the boy's plate.
"Jack, in account with Mother."
--To looking after his baby years .... $0.00
" washing and cleaning clothes .... 0.00
" mending stockings ............... 0.00
" helping all his life ............ 0.00
------
Total ................... $0.00
The second day a shame-faced boy tore up that first bill and later on
laid his head in his mother's lap and cried.--I guess you know why!
Before a train starts, the wipers go all over her to wipe and examine
the engine; the fireman comes and builds and starts the fire; the
engineer comes and goes carefully all over the machinery; the mechanic
comes and tests all the wheels; and then she is linked on the train, the
lever is pulled, and puff! puff!--away she goes, drawing her long line
of passengers and freight!
You are going through the process now of getting ready. By-and-by you
will be hitched on to some life job.
See you get ready properly, and get coupled to the right train; and then
pull for all your might, and help serve humanity by bringing in your
load to the final station where some day we all must land.
*XXXI*
*BETSY*