Article March 25, 1905 Issue

Lessons from a Homely Experience

M. FANNIE WHITNEY.

Some years ago my parents lived on a farm, and while spending a summer vacation there I thought to improve the condition of the homestead somewhat. We had an old-fashioned hardwood table with a heavy base, whose polish had worn off and which looked unsightly. In my ignorance of its value. I put a coat of paint upon the old table and then varnished it. I did this without my father's knowledge, but without the slightest apprehension that it would displease him. After it was done he said very quietly, "That table ought not to have been painted, it should have been sand-papered and polished again." His gentle remark made very little impression upon me at the time, as I felt justified in what I had done and thought the table greatly improved.

It was not until a year ago last spring that I fully realized what a mistake I had made, and then came a great desire to correct it. The table was moved into the shed and I commenced work, scraping off the paint inch by inch. It was very hard work, and so slow that it looked like an endless undertaking. I kept at work, however, doing a little at a time, and finally the paint was all removed. Then the surface was treated in the proper way, and all well until my ignorance was again manifested and the polish was uneven. As if to further test my patience, perseverance, and endurance, it all had to be rubbed off and put on again. It often seemed like a foolish waste of time, and the temptation to give it up came to me a great many times, but the thought that it would please my father, more than anything else, inspired me to continue. When the result was finally accomplished I felt well paid for my work and thankful that I had continued my efforts to the end.

The lessons learned in this experience were many and valuable. I saw how patiently our heavenly Father, divine Love, waits for all to see their mistakes and then to repent and correct them. It may be a long time before we discover an error, and we may justify ourselves in what we have done, but sooner or later we are either led or forced to say, "I did wrong, and now I know it." The process of correcting some errors may be long and hard, and the temptation may often come to give up but the thought that it will please the Father should inspire us with zeal to continue until the final victory is gained. The Master said, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Thus the process of redemption goes on in each individual consciousness, and it will continue until all are redeemed. The "well done" will come when we learn to work for God alone, satisfied only when we "do those things that are pleasing in his sight."

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