By George Matthew Adams

I have been thinking about the great unrest in the world. And I have been believing that a lot of it would be cured - if only a great crowd of new mothers might be imported into the world! For, you see, a mother is able to cure almost everything.

From the little tot who bumps his head and gets a great big fat "tiss" that immediately heals it, to the strong man who goes to his work in life after the benediction of a mother's last kiss - does this marvelous influence mold and make worth while every effort that a human being is able to perform.

It's the "Mother o' Mine" thought the embodies the noblest impulses of which we are capable. I have in mind a wonderful mother, who sent her boy out into the world with these words: "My boy — come back SOMEBODY!"

Through the winding paths and ways of strife and pain and sorrow, as well as of joy, does the spirit of a mother follow and lead. A mother never runs out of love or forgiveness — or anything that is helpful.

Long years ago my Mother went away. But she comes back with the opening of every day — to tell me what to do. And all that I am of wisdom or of good, I feel that I owe most to her.

"Mother o' Mine," you look so beautiful to me, where you are! The stars keep telling me about you.

It's the mothers who are going to bring this world out all right in the end!

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By George Matthew Adams

Life is like a running stream — with its source far from its destination, its heart hidden from the crowd of men and traffic, among the mountains getting ready!

But, like life, the full fervor and power and influence for usefulness of the little far-away mountain stream, is to be found finally in its spreading rivers of commerce — in its oceans of world-knitting help and great works.

Coming down the mountain sides from its source, the little river doesn't seem much. But when it gets to its river-bigness and broadness and, later, to the very ocean itself, then we get it in its mightiness. For then it is that commerce comes in and knowledge is carried to the furthermost parts of the earth.

The little stream, however, even at its start, is serious. As flowers are, and stones, and trees. And the world. Thus is Life serious. But to be serious is not to be long-faced - but thought-faced!

The little stream is serious - but dead in earn-est. But the greatest thing about the little river is that it always — smiles!

Did you ever see a river that didn't smile? Why, there are billions and billions of smiles — rivers and rivers of smiles. And they cheer everything and everybody that they pass — stones, sticks, mud, fishes, boats, branches of trees. And they toss out their kisses of smiles (do the Rivers of Smiles) to every passing thing whether man or child or beast or bird or insect or - just the atoms of the air!

Like a stream you may be — in walks and talks and works. Just ripple on! Keep moving. Keep doing. Keep cleansing. Keep giving.

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By George Matthew Adams

In the Bible there is a story of a young man who thought that his home was not good enough for him. So he went away.

He sought thrills, veneered pleasures, and "easy money" — without working for it. It is said that he fed upon the husks of the swine-herd.

But the young man soon tired - as all such do. He wanted to hear again the voices of home, and to eat home cooking, and to have a happy bed to sleep in. And so he decided to go back. "I will arise and go to my father," he said.

His pride had been broken. He was ragged and discouraged. But he was not so far gone that he was unable to decide to face things definitely anew.

As he neared his home, a thrill that he had never known before came over him. His father ran to meet him with outstretched arms. And so glad was the father to see him that he ordered the finest dinner and celebration that he could think up. "For," said he, "my boy, whom I thought was dead, is alive!"

Some of the other members of the family didn't seem to like the idea of taking him back. But not the father. Which goes to prove that there is great father love as well as mother love, in the big world.

But the lesson in the story, to me, is this: Here was a young man who had made a great mistake - but who still retained the courage to face life anew.

Daily must we mend and re-construct. Regrets are vain, indeed. But the holy desire to be right within our hearts is what counts.

Each of us must decide for himself - to arise!

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By George Matthew Adams

He thought, he planned, he worked. He never believed that anything was too unimportant not to do right and well. He was always looking ahead.

He was willing to go through poverty and hardship. He didn't mind the lack of applause. He had figured out, in terms of his own ideals, the cost of winning, and he was willing to go without the friendship of those who saw not his worth.

He always came up smiling. He never crossed a bridge until he got to it — and then if the bridge had been washed away, he swam across!

He respected old age. He was kind to the poor and to little children. There was something about him that never repelled, but that drew even the dumb animals to him.

He was tolerant. He could see other people's viewpoint. He had no time for other people's business, but he always had time for other people's needs. Because, you see, he understood so much — and so well.

He was religious, but not sectarian. He often prayed, because he believed in prayer. He lived in a world of feeling. Therefore, he was sensitive, and felt, as the most responsive instrument, every touch of hurt or of kindness.

He was clean in mind. He had his own ideas about being a "good fellow." He made mistakes, for he was intensely human. But he didn't brood. He raised smiles on his love-ranch - in his heart.

Now, who was this "He"? Well, I'll tell you who he was — he was a MAN!

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By George Matthew Adams

He was the first to bring real democracy into the world. He was born of simple parentage, in a place where cattle were wont to feed. He grew up naturally, took up a trade and was a worker.

He liked "common folks" - though He was at ease with anybody, because His was a mission of love in the world, and love cares nothing for clothes or pocketbooks or special classes. He "went about doing good," and judged people by their hearts only.

He was always serving. He was always thinking of other people. He was tender and gentle in manner, though His courage was the courage of the Crucifixion. He loved little children. His was a life of teaching and example. Wherever He went, He accomplished something.

He never condemned and He never sought re-venge. No one ever left Him without experiencing "newness of life." His ideals worked, because even those who were His enemies saw in Him what His words expressed.

He gave a rebirth to Influence in the world. And He placed a valuation upon human character that the world had never known before.

But greatest of all, He brought peace and good will into the world. He wanted to see everybody happy. And so, all over the world, His spirit is ever binding up wounds, feeding the hungry and breaking the chains from those bound in slavery.

So to Him — to Jesus, the "Prince of Peace" — be all glory and honor and love — forever!

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By George Matthew Adams

Every thought you think either builds or tears down.

Positive thought builds, negative thoughts tear down. Here is a positive thought for you — just for today —"I am not afraid!"

Fear for the things that never happen has kept this great big world asleep, and groggy, and trembling fully half the time.

Say this — right now — "I am not afraid!"

Life is a thing of problems — little ones, big ones, funny ones, strange ones, mysterious ones.

But all of them may be solved aright if you will but say, as you look each one squarely in the face: "I am not afraid!"

No harm can possibly come to you so long as you feel that you are not afraid - so long as you can say: "I am not afraid!"

Jesus once said something like this: "Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." For two thousand years the words and works of this Man have lived. Jesus knew how to say: "I am not afraid!"

So you say this today: "I am not afraid!"

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By George Matthew Adams

Are you ever thrilled by some fine thought in a book or newspaper, or from some speaker?

Haven't you felt like going right to the author and telling him how much you appreciated the thrill?

Well, you just do it.

The man never lived who did not appreciate appreciation. No man ever gets so great or famous that he does not long for this very thing.

If you read a book or article anywhere that helps you, or that makes you happy, tell it to the author. If you do not know his address, write to the publisher of the book or magazine or newspaper and he will gladly forward your appreciation.

I sat talking in the study of a very famous writer and he said: "Just listen to this wonderful gem." As he read it to me, I thought to myself, how wonderful if the author could but hear and know.

The story is told of Richard Harding Davis that he had a habit of writing, or even of wiring, an author whose story or book he especially liked.

There is not a writer or publisher in the land who does not welcome, with a wide open heart, every expression of appreciation from his readers. It's this that keeps him going.

If anybody or anything helps you, tell it — far and wide. Give it the wings of a dove, or of an eagle. But tell it.

And "after many days" (maybe just a few) renewed knowledge and happiness is sure to come back to you.

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By George Matthew Adams

"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again,

The eternal years of God are hers;

But Error, wounded, writhes with pain, And dies among his worshippers."

William Cullen Bryant

I learned these lines when but a boy. They made a great impression on me. They have inspired me a thousand times. They have taught me that only one thing is permanent — the thing that is right and good.

There is always one consolation, even in utter failure, to a man of spirit, and that is that such a failure is but temporary. The lower such a man is thrown into failure, the higher he may aspire to climb.

And the longer one trains and prepares, the mightier is one's strength.

My friend, do they tell you that you are "down and out"? Prove to them that you may be down — but out — never!

Rise again, over the dead past, with your mistakes as the ladder-rounds upon which you climb to a higher goal. Honest effort is eternal.

At the very moment you feel tempted to quit— don't. For that is the point at which you should determinedly decide to begin again. Rise again, my friend, rise again.

A great spirit never can be beaten. Many an iron soul has been broken, only to be molded anew into something greater and stronger than before.

Suppose you are "kicked down." Smile! Then — rise again!

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By George Matthew Adams

He is kind and gentle. Truth plays within his yard during the hours of sun and light, and comes at nightfall to add laughter to the sound of voices that interchange in tales of work and thinking.

Being just, he is strong. Being human, he is sometimes weak. But he is always a master!

That is why folks of all sorts hunt out his house and like to come and spend hours underneath his roof.

Observant, keen, full of ripe intelligence, his knowledge is that of the world much more than that of books. So that his ideas and reflections are always such that the simplest minded may easily understand, and grow in richness therefrom.

Often, of an evening in winter, have I seen, with my mind's eye, this master, sitting quietly beside his hospitable fire amongst those whom he loves. And in the dusk of summer have I seen him play with happy children along the singing creek, just a little back of his home.

For the master of the house is a father, brother, boy — friend! So all may look to him in love, happiness or sorrow. For interwoven within his experience are all the elements that go to make up a man.

The master of the house, whom I have in mind is he whom you may be. The house is the body where you live.

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By George Matthew Adams

Under the glass of my work desk is a little phrase that has helped me not to mind, when things looked dark and people misjudged and mis-understood, or when some have proved disloyal.

Here it is: "The dog barks, but the caravan passes on." After all, there is a world of sense and philosophy to be gained from animate things that "move and have their being" but which do not talk.

Horse sense? Well, dog sense is pretty helpful, too.

Have you never seen a great dog meander its way through a street, followed by a troop of small dogs, barking and snapping at the big dog? Such an incident has given me many a thought and many a smile. For the big fellow just walks on - and doesn't mind. And soon the little snappers drop away.

Never mind!

There is one big principle that counts in the formation of character and a life success, and that is to stick to the "main chance." To swerve neither to the right nor to the left, but to do the things at hand that bear upon the greater things to be — and then to pass on.

Mind not the little daily irritations. They come to us all. "The dog barks, but the caravan passes on."

Gossip is poisonous? Oh, yes — very. But it poisons the other fellow infinitely more than it poisons you. And besides, you are able to be so big that the poison is soon thrown off, and forgotten.

"The dog barks, but the caravan passes on."

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