The school of Heaven

(Octavius Winslow, "Evening Thoughts")

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we
 are filled with joy. Those who sow in tears, will
 reap with songs of joy."  Psalm 126:3, 5

We can praise God for trials!

We can thank God for sorrows!

These have been to us, though a painful — yet
a much needed and a most blessed school.

The 'wilderness' has been a heavenly place on earth . . .
  the lessons which we have been taught,
  the truths which we have learned,
  the preciousness of Jesus which we have experienced,
  the love of God which we have felt,
  the sweetness in prayer which we have tasted,
  and the fitness for labor which we have derived,
all, all testify, as with one voice — to the unutterably
precious blessings that flow through the channel of
sacred and sanctified sorrow.

Dear reader, as painful and sad as may be the path
you now are treading — fear not; the outcome will
be most glorious. The seed you are sowing in tears,
shall yield you a golden harvest of joy!

Adversity is the school of Heaven!

And in Heaven . . . .
  where no sorrow chafes,
  where no tears flow,
  where no blight withers,
  where no disappointment sickens, and
  where no sad change chills, wounds, and slays,
the sweetest praises will be awakened by the
recollection of the sanctified sorrows of earth!

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