| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 11 |
Page 4 |
The more numerous the demands on his time and attention and sympathy the better Dr. Miller was pleased. He was always thinking of others, and he liked to be the “spent clear out for others.” His idea of the secret of happiness was given to one who asked him to compose a Christmas greeting to be sent to friends:
“The less you think of what Christmas will bring to you and the more you think of what you can do for others, the happier will the day be. If you think of one who is not likely to receive any attention and plan to make the day bright for that one, joy will fill your own heart. This is the only secret.”
That this was his way of spending Christmas was learned by a friend who had been hoping to spend the holiday at home with his family. Christmas came on Sunday that year, and the friend had no engagements to preach. But on Saturday he was asked to preach in the morning for a pastor whose wife had just died, and in the evening for another pastor who was seriously ill. “I won’t say it is too bad you are to have a Christmas like that,” was Dr. Miller’s comment. “You are not to be pitied, but to be congratulated. The best Christmas is a Christmas of service. This morning at prayer I thanked God for the busy week he has sent me. It has been a glorious week. I have slept very little. The burdens and woes of many have been on my heart. There have been a number of special cases – some that could be met my money, and some that money could not reach. I rejoice that they have been brought to me.”
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