"No one can give place in his own heart and life for the stream of God's blessing to flow to others, without receiving in himself a rich reward. The hillsides and plains that furnish a channel for the mountain streams to reach the sea suffer no loss thereby. That which they give is repaid a hundredfold. For the stream that goes singing on its way leaves behind its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass on its banks is a fresher green, the trees have a richer verdure, the flowers are more abundant. When the earth lies bare and brown under the summer's parching heat, a line of verdure marks the river's course; and the plain that opened her bosom to bear the mountain's treasure to the sea is clothed with freshness and beauty, a witness to the recompense that God's grace imparts to all who give themselves as a channel for its outflow to the world."
White, Ellen. Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. 81-82.
A lovely photo, and a lovely thought. I want to leave a richer green behind me, too.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember that quote -- how beautiful!
ReplyDelete"The path of a good woman is indeed strewn with flowers, but they rise behind her steps, not before them."—John Ruskin
ReplyDelete