Sample Articles

Imagine a beautiful princess. Beautiful, because she bears an invaluable Godly character. She is patient in all her words, kind to her family, gentle in her actions, graceful in her conduct, unselfish to her siblings, and a radiancy of purity. She never answered unkindly or impatiently, and she always had the love of God ready in her life to pour on another. She was esteemed by God, her family and her acquaintances.

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This is what I dream to be.¹ But yet, everyday I find myself fail miserably, over and over again. Most days—in fact, I can’t think of one day when I have seemingly “reached my goal”—I blow it completely by saying unkind words, by not being encouraging...words that could have been used to build God’s Kingdom and used by Him. Are you like me and struggle with this?

We can become this ideal, but only with Jesus’ help. We have to strive for it.

Recently, a preacher I was listening to said, “What comes out of us when we are in hot water is what is inside of us.” I had often heard my Dad say the same thing. His words are “You are what you are when you are cold, tired, wet, and hungry.” I had always thought, “Well, who wouldn’t be grumpy when they’re that miserable?!” but I have come to realize that this is completely true!² Isn’t it amazing to hear kind words return angry ones? Jesus gave us this example of servitude to follow during His entire earthly life. This is what I want others to see in me-something they lack and want.

If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and are constantly dwelling in Christ’s love, then Christlike words and actions will come out. If we are always thinking about ourselves, and never thinking of the good of the others around us, then unkind and selfish things come out of us! I have to admit, when my sister hits me with a rubber band, I don’t smile and kindly say “thank you”! When my brother hits me, I don’t patiently tell him that it isn’t being kind. Because I am not dwelling on God, but myself, I naturally “fight back.” I am not thinking of what eternal consequence or reward will be for my response. If I were, I definitely would think before I reacted! At the end of the day, I look back and think I wish I would have responded patiently, but that doesn’t help anything if I don’t strive constantly to reach that goal. I need to always be striving for better.

These little daily trials are God’s way of “refining me as fine gold” in the fire. When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.³ If I never had these trials, how would I ever become Christlike? We would never become kind, patient, serving sisters if we were never tested. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you....but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.⁴ We need to pray for patience and guidance so when trials come, we can conquer them! We are actually commanded here to rejoice--to ‘partake in Christ’s suffering.’ What a small way to ‘suffer,’ but it starts in these little things. Christ will receive glory when we bear in patience what He places before us. So think of every little aggravation you run into as another way to show others that you are serving the King, and conquering another test from Him. Praying before responding also helps keep the right view of things.

The main issue is being considerate of others. We have to be humble to serve.⁵ We need to hold others higher than ourselves and think of them as worthy of kindnesses. When you think of something critical about someone else, it is placing them lower than yourself. Start praying and ask Jesus to help you say something kind instead. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works...⁶ When your Mom finds your books out and tells you to put them away, you will see the burden it places on her by you being lazy and leaving things out. When we are looking at the other’s side of things, our response is much humbler! Let this be our cry: He must increase, but I must decrease.⁷

Do something extra for your siblings, and your parents. Write little notes of gratefulness and encouragement to your family members. When I have done this, it is so fruitful. My siblings often write notes back to me, and then they write notes to their other siblings...and it keeps giving. Help serve your Mother by doing extra things for her--when she is tired, do the dishes for her. Make yourself available to her if she needs help. Having a cheerful attitude alone makes the load lighter for her! Make an extra effort to serve your family members.

One person in a family can richly bless the other family members, or not. It is our choice how we choose to use our influence the household. One grumpy person in the family will spoil the whole household. One person also can bless, edify and build up others. Encouragement and praise takes only a second. Even more important, it sets a good example to our younger siblings. What we are is what they see and is what they eventually will become! We can use our influence over them for good if we only will.

A sweet older girl I know recently wrote me this advice:

The reward of serving is eternal, though often we will never see all the rewards of our ‘little’ kindnesses. God sees every one, and the Bible clearly states that the one who serves will be blessed. When you raise above your will to be lowered for other’s sake, you will be greatly exalted by God, which is so much higher and more important than any man’s praise. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.⁸

Let us press upward together-always looking to the goal. When we fail, Jesus is there to give another chance. May this hymn be the deep cry of our heart and goal everyday:

I have one deep, supreme desire--
That I may be like Jesus.
To this I fervently aspire--
That I may be like Jesus.
I want my heart His throne to be,
So that the watching world may see
His likeness shining forth in me.
I want to be like Jesus.⁹

For the King,
Sarah

NOTES: ¹1 Tim 4:12; ² Prov. 23:7; ³Job 23:10; ⁴1 Pet. 4:12-13; ⁵Acts 20:19; ⁶Heb. 10:24; ⁷John 3:30; ⁸Eph. 6:6; ⁹1st verse of “I want to be like Jesus” by Thomas Chisholm.