Gravel in the Shoe

“Who will pity the man who cojnplai?zs of soreness a7id pai7i in walJdng, a?idyet doth not take the gravel out of his shoe? If you woimd and gore yourselves, no questio7i but yoicr S77iart a7id trouble are real, you do 7iot co7nplai7i 17i hypocrisy; but who is to be bla77ied? Your busi7iess is to re77iove the causeP Many of the trials of our spiritual life are preventible: if we indulge a sin we invite a sorrow. Others are curable: if we refuse a remedy we rivet a disease. All that we can do for ourselves we are bound to do. We must put away evil habits, and not content ourselves with whining out our regrets. We must get away from temptation, and not sit near the fire and complain of the heat. There is too much of this insincerity abroad. What should we have thought of the prodigal if he had lamented his destitution, but had continued in the far country? What do we now think of the drunkard who mourns over the redness of his eyes, and yet tarries long at the wine; or of the lascivious man who bemoans his vice, and yet frequents the house of the strange woman?

By gracious instruction, I pray thee, O Lord, teach me to be practical in going to the bottom of things, — that I may not waste time in regretting evils which it is my duty to prevent. Let me not mourn my doubt, and yet refuse to believe thy faithful word; neither permit me to cry over my chastisement, and yet continue in my folly. Lord, make me to know wisdom. To this end, make me mindful of little things. Help me to look to the little stone, or tiny dust in my shoe, for this may cause me many a blister, and even lame me, so that I cannot hold on my way.