After a long and worthy life, given up to lowly ministry, a good
clergyman was called home. Soon after his death, there was a meeting
of his friends, and many of them spoke of his beautiful life.
Incidents were given showing how his labors had been blessed. Out of
full hearts one after another gave grateful tribute of love. The
minister's widow was present; and when all the kindly words had been
spoken, she thanked the friends for what they had said. Then she
asked, amid her tears, "But why did you never tell him these things
while he was living?"

Yes, why not? He had wrought for forty years in a most unselfish way.
He had poured out his life without stint. He had carried his people in
his heart by day and by night, never sparing himself in any way when he
could be of use to one of God's children. His people were devoted to
him, loved him, and appreciated his labors. Yet rarely, all those
years, had any of them told him of the love that was in their hearts
for him, or of their gratitude for service given or good received. He
was conscious of the Master's approval, and this cheered him,--it was
the commendation he sought; but it would have comforted him many a
time, and made the burdens seem lighter and the toil easier and the joy
of serving deeper, if his people--those he loved and lived for, and
helped in so many ways--had sometimes told him how much he was to them.

All about us move, these common days, those who would be strengthened
and comforted by the good cheer which we could give. Let us not
reserve all the flowers for coffin-lids. Let us not keep our alabaster
boxes sealed and unbroken till our loved ones are dead. Let us show
kindness when kindness will do good. It will make sorrow all the
harder to bear if we have to say beside our dead, "I might have
brightened the way a little if only I had been kinder."

It was wonderful honoring which Jesus gave to Mary's deed, when he said
that wherever the gospel should be preached throughout the whole world
the story of this anointing should be told. So, right in among the
memorials of his own death, this ministry of love is enshrined. As the
odor of the ointment filled all the room where the guests sat at table,
so the aroma of Mary's love fills all the Christian world to-day. The
influence of her deed, with the Master's honoring of it, has shed a
benediction on countless homes, making hearts gentler, and lives
sweeter and truer.

[1] For a f