The Sin of Omission

From The Art of Home-Making:

The Sin of Omission

It isn’t the thing you do, Dear, It’s the thing you leave undone that gives you a bit of heartache at the setting of the sun. The tender word forgotten; the letter you did not write; the flower you did not send, Dear, are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted out of a brother’s way; the bit of heartsome counsel you were hurried too much to say; the loving touch of the hand, dear, the gentle, winning tone which you had no time nor thought for with troubles enough of your own.

Those little acts of kindness so easily out of mind, those chances to be angels which we poor mortals find; They come in night and silence, each sad, reproachful wraith, when hope is faint and flagging and chill has fallen on faith.

For life is all too short, dear, and sorrow is all too great to suffer our slow compassion that tarries until too late; And it isn’t the thing that you do, Dear, its the thing you leave undone which gives you a bit of a heartache at the setting of the sun.

How convicting~ Obey the direction of the Lord to give kindness!