NEWS FROM THE HILLS
Dear Cousin,
The two spring like days that we enjoyed have retreated back into the frost of February and permitted the snow flurries and freezing weather to return. It was good while it lasted, although this is more seasonal weather. My brother Ronnie asked me if it was “Indian spring.” I feel that it was a couple of bonus days from the Lord to encourage and give us a foretaste of the beauty of spring that lies ahead of us. The coming of spring never grows stale. No matter how many spring seasons we have seen come and go it is a fresh experience every time. Perhaps it is because we are having a colder winter than usual that I am looking forward to spring more eagerly than ever before. Widely scattered snowflakes greeted us this morning, but there were patches of blue sky peeping through the gray clouds. Soon the sun prevailed and we have a sparkling and cold day. A burst of song greeted me as I stepped out on the kitchen porch. Hidden somewhere among the leafless trees, a little songbird poured out his praise for the morning. It was a song so cheerful, so hopeful that I felt my own heart uplifted.
Then from the opposite hill came an answering trill. Back and forth the melody resounded, filling the morning with a song of hope and happiness. I marveled that a tiny ball of feathers, weighing only a few ounces, could change the atmosphere of a day and lift the heart. We should learn a lesson from these tiny conveyors of joy. How many times would a kind word or warm smile encourage the heart of another and change the atmosphere of their entire day? We cannot see inside the heart of another and recognize the discouragement and utter despair that sometimes lodges there. However, many times we see the outward appearance and can sense that a person is overburdened with cares and troubles. It is not necessary to pry into the cause, but sometimes a friendly pat on the shoulder or a warm hug is all that is needed to convey love and concern.
There are times when a word is needed — and God help us to recognize these times. We must choose our words wisely and carefully. The Bible tells us in Proverbs that “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures (or baskets) of silver.” Circumstances beyond our control often bring misery and pain to a person. A wise old minister once told me that innocent people have always had to suffer because of the sins of someone else. That is very true. Many times people suffer because of their own misdeeds. God forbid that we should in any way add to their punishment.
There are good people who have the idea that to show friendliness or offer an encouraging word is to condone the deed they have done. Nothing could be further from the truth. The guilty person is feeling the weight of the sin they have committed, along with the remorse and sorrow that follows. If there is ever a time that someone needs genuine love and mercy extended, it is during such a time. I had to learn this lesson the hard way, when a heart-breaking situation occurred in our own family. I felt that I had to show such disapproval that I failed to show love. Disapproval and censorship does not change the deed that was done, but it surely affects the guilty party in a negative way.
Thank the Lord; love was restored between my child and me. Our pastor once preached a message that I have never forgotten. The title was “You will reap what you sow.” I had always thought that it pertained to the sinners’ final reaping, but it goes much deeper than that. If I withhold mercy and love from someone who is downtrodden and in despair, there will come a time when I will need mercy. I will reap exactly what I have sown. It hurts me when I see a person rejoice, or even find satisfaction, in someone’s misfortune. The remarks, “Well, they got exactly what was coming to them!” or “I’m glad they got their dues!” grate harshly on my ears.
There is an old country saying, “What goes around, comes around.” That is just another way of saying, “You will reap what you sow.” That wee bird that filled the morning with song and brightened my day has been on my mind all evening. He was pouring out the song that God had given him, and fulfilling his duty. There is a marvelous lesson here. If the Lord had not shown love and mercy to us, where would we be? How can we do any less?
love,
Cousin Alyce Faye
> Read More Information About Us
> More Articles Written By Our Staff
- One Last Delivery After 25 Years Of Dedication To Community News - December 19, 2025
- 400 Kids Enjoy A Festive Afternoon - December 19, 2025
- Local Radio Stations Help Families With ‘Letters To Santa’ - December 19, 2025