“Life is the wonder of wonders.” We can neither create it nor can we
comprehend its mystery. From the sun worshiper of the East to the red
man of the West, from the philosopher to the child there is in him that
natural inclination to bow with reverence to that all majestic, all
powerful source of this which we call life. “The greatest harm one may
do in life is to destroy it.”
The child has a natural tendency toward destruction, which we often see
illustrated in the youth whose chief pleasure is obtained by pulling up
the wild flowers and shrubs. He says, “they do not suffer.” Possibly
not, but they have been a means used to decorate and beautify the earth.
To destroy them for amusement is an insult to the great Creator, and is
also hardening his own heart. He will not long be satisfied to trample
upon the rose or crush the lily, but will want to torture living things
that will cry out with pain. When he has robbed the bird’s nest,
mutilated the toad and tied the tin can to the dog’s tail, he will then
turn to his fellowman to satiate his cultivated taste for cruelty. The
attack upon the flowers was only the preliminary act to destroy his
sympathy, love and pity. He has forgotten the law, “Thou shalt not
kill.”