Life-lessons

(J. R. Miller, "In Green Pastures")

"Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble
 in heart." Matthew 11:29

We all fail in the life-lessons which our great
Teacher sets for us. The hardest school-tasks are
easily mastered--in comparison with the lessons of:
  patience,
  sweet temper,
  forgiveness,
  unselfishness,
  gentleness,
  humility,
  purity,
  contentment.

Even at best--we can learn these lessons but slowly.
And though but little seems to come from our yearnings
and strugglings after Christ-likeness--yet God honors the
yearning and the striving. While we sit in the shadows of
weariness, disheartened with our failures--He carries on
the work within us, and with His own hands produces
the divine beauty in our souls.