MARGARET OGILVY wondered how her mother had acquired the soft glow of her face, the gentleness that played across her features during hours of stress as well as those of joy. She determined to learn her secret.
Studying her mother's countenance, which looked so awful in its calmness when one of her offspring misbehaved, or that rippled with mirth over someone's prank, she observed that, regardless of the circumstance, her mother's contented spirit never wavered. No trial hardened her features into an iron-like mask, nor did the sunshine of success erase the compassion from around her mouth. She bore her sorrows valiantly and made a rainbow of her tears.
One day Margaret discovered why other mothers, after a tragic loss perhaps of a child, came to her to seek her ministry and solace for their wounded hearts. "I looked into mother's eyes and suddenly knew why God had sent her into the world—into this often-too-discordant world—to open the minds of all who looked, to beautiful thoughts!"
We Are Painting Pictures Daily
Every woman unconsciously paints the pictures of her thoughts upon her face. What she thinks in the privacy of her inner being comes to the surface, either in coarse design or delicate tracery, according to the thought material she employs.
Freshman academy student Lueva began playing McDowell's "To a Wild Rose" in a rather bombastic manner. "Imagine that you're a flower girl dropping petals in a wedding procession," her organ instructor suggested.
The expression on the girl's face changed from excited animation to quiet winsomeness, and the music from her fingers fairly danced the petals before an imaginary bride.
"That's it!" her teacher exclaimed. "What were you thinking about when you came to your lesson?"
"Baseball," said Lueva.
"Your playing sounded like it!" smiled the teacher.
Not only had she failed to interpret the com poser's meaning in her music, but her face had also reflected the concept she'd entertained in her mind. By focusing her thoughts on a beautiful wedding, she painted an entirely different picture on her face.
Interior Decoration of the Mind
A woman's inner world of enriched thinking illumines her countenance with a magnetism that can attract a host of friends and worth while experiences. Genuine soul beautification spreads a glow over the face with which no applied cosmetic can compete.
Interior decoration of the mind may first require a thorough washing of already established thoughts. By winnowing and sifting, she may discard worthless material and refine that which remains into noble and lofty concepts worthy of a queen's contemplation. Then, when she grasps the small details of living, as well as its grand abstractions, and applies her greatest powers of concentration to the simplest practical necessity, she stretches her mental capacity to its widest and highest dimensions. Stretching the mind enables her to create new and superior thought patterns.
Regardless of environment or circumstances, each woman possesses an inner sanctum of individuality in which no uninvited idea may indefinitely lodge. As absolute sovereign of the castle of her mind, she can grant entrance to only those guests who aid in developing her full potentiality for service in her home and in her church. She can also refuse to admit any transient visitor that might quarrel with her carefully screened permanent guests. Closing the door to gloomy, frivolous, or spiteful thoughts, she can place a welcome mat before the citadel of her mind to receive only those cheerful, stimulating, and lovable thoughts that inspire her toward beautiful living. To obtain that mental scenery which reminds of an Italian garden of colorful flowers, a woman must drink in fresh appreciations of art, music, literature, and other related forms of beauty. She should ponder every virtue and lay in supplies of truth, useful knowledge, and wholesome memories for future contemplation. Upon the art gallery of her mind, she may place the portrait of her Saviour as the center piece around which all of her other thought-masterpieces revolve.
The Finest Gift
The finest gift a person can bestow upon another is that of beautiful thoughts—thoughts that inspire and encourage, which see in every situation an opportunity to advance and to grow. Not only do helpful and kindly thoughts dispel fear and heal hurt, but they also view every failure as a challenging prelude to ultimate success. By cultivating constructive and radiant attitudes, a woman reflects a poise and charm that profoundly affects those who cross her path, but the net result of her influence depends upon the degree of selflessness of effort she achieves in her witnessing for her Master.
The privilege to erect for herself a temple of inexhaustible rich thoughts should challenge every woman to exercise constant vigilance and never to cease gathering her treasures. Garnering beautiful thoughts to give to others only increases her own store, for blessings multiply when shared. The psalmist unreservedly placed all of his thought-treasures upon the altar of sacrifice for his Master's use. "Let . . . the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight" (Ps. 19:14), he petitioned his heavenly Father; then poured out songs of beauty to bless men and women of all ages.
The life of the mind requires constant nourishing and nurturing to grow toward that perfect standard which the Creator originally planned for His children. To reach this height of excellence "the thinking powers should be consecrated to Christ" (Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 71), that He may direct each woman's thoughts into those areas which will enable her to paint more and more of His likeness upon her face.
