The atmosphere of a good friend

Hugh Black likens the choice of a good friend to breathing in 'a good atmosphere.' He writes:

Others have a good atmosphere; we can breathe there in safety, and have a joyful sense of security. With some of these it is a local delicate environment, sweet, suggestive, like the aroma of wild violets: we have to look, and sometimes to stoop, to get into its range. With some it is like a Scotch pine forest, or a eucalyptus grove of warmer climes, which perfumes a whole countryside. It is well to know such, Christ’s little ones and Christ’s great ones. They put oxygen into the moral atmosphere and we breathe more freely for it. They give us new insight, and fresh courage, and purer faith, and by the impulse of their example inspire us to nobler life.

How thankful I am for the atmosphere of sweetness that I can breathe around the great friends God has blessed me with!

Reflecting on a new year

In this time of reflecting back and looking ahead, a few lines from Frances Ridley Havergal's new year verses:

One year less
Of wisely-ordered loss
Of sorrow and of weariness
Conflict and cross.

One year more
Of mercies ever new
Of love in never-failing store,
Faithful and true.

----------------------

The future! who may lift the veil
And read its yet unwritten tale?
But sorrow and joy alike we leave
In the Hand that doeth all things well,
And calmly from that Hand receive
All that each coming year may tell.
We would not ask of life or death,
It shall be as the Master saith.

----------------------

So, we rest in God, knowing that throughout the past year he has proved faithful. And we look with both faith and hope to a year of his kind care, knowing that he loves us as his very own!