A CHRISTIAN, who was greatly afflicted, sat down one day, weary and discouraged, to take a little rest. As she thought over her troubles and sorrows, she felt as though her load was heavier than she could bear. Thinking thus, and quite overcome with grief, she fell asleep in her chair; and while asleep, she dreamed. She, thought she was going from one building to another, and in each building she saw workmen scraping and polishing something that looked to her like dirty stones. As she passed on, from place to place she noticed that the surroundings gradually became cleaner, and the stones, on which the workmen were so busily engaged, began to look brighter. Seeing so much work put upon what seemed so insignificant and worthless, her curiosity was aroused and she asked one of the workmen what these stones were and what they were going to do with them. He told her that they were diamonds which were crusted over with dirt which was hard to remove; and they were being polished for the king’s mansion. Passing on, she came at length to the palace of the king, and there she saw some of the polished stones—handsome diamonds, sparkling and lustrous with beauty.
She wakened; it was only a dream, but a dream that spoke to her heart and conscience. She thought to herself, I will not murmur again; all the troubles through which I am passing will only serve to make me shine more brightly when I reach the happy home up there.
How is it with you, my dear reader? Do you sometimes feel faint at heart and ready to sink under the burdens that come upon you? for young Christians, as well as older ones, have their sorrows and their troubles. Do not forget that the polishing is going on, and that it is all needed if you would one day shine, resplendent in beauty, in “the mansions of the King.”
In the sorrows we are drawn closer to Jesus, learn more of Him, and grow more like Him. Thus we are being fitted for the fuller enjoyment of His presence, and for shining in glory in that coming, blessed day.
ML 06/21/1903