o my
God while I have being.' So says the Psalmist, and surely we can all
echo his words from our very hearts. Mother, you seem to have selected
a passage. Will you please read it?"

"Yes," she said; "here in Corinthians where the apostle is speaking of
the sting of death and the victory over the grave, he cries exultingly,
'But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.' Then he goes on, 'Therefore my beloved brethren be ye
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.'"

"Yes; and let us all heed that exhortation," said the captain. "Evelyn,
you seem to have a text ready. Will you please read it?"

"These words of Jesus," she said, "'I will not leave you comfortless; I
will come to you,' are they not words to be thankful for?"

"They are, indeed!" he said. "What can be more comforting than the
presence of the Master? His presence and his love. 'He that hath my
commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that
loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him.' Ah! what is there more worthy to be thankful
for than the love of Christ! But when should we give thanks, Walter?"

"Always, sir. Here in Ephesians I read, 'Giving thanks always for all
things unto God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Again
in first Thessalonians, 'We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers.'"

Then Sydney, Lucilla, and Grace read in turn:

"'Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks; for
that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.'"

"'And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.'"

"'Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.'"

They read, in turn, again and again, finding the Bible full of
exhortations to thanksgiving, then joined in singing hymns of
praise--not with their voices only, but with joy, and thankfulness in
their hearts because of the good gifts of God, both temporal and
spiritual, to them