What can't be cured should be
endured by Henrietta Wilson from Little Things, 1852, read by
Christopher Glynn. All the days of the despondent
are miserable, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15, 15. There is a class
of little annoyances such as we make for ourselves by a complaining
or an overly fastidious temperament. There are some who make such
a fuss about trifles, tormenting themselves and worrying others
by a perpetual fault-finding and discontent, as every trifling
irritation is magnified to a mountain, that all pleasure is spoiled
by their presence. It is a good rule in little things
as well as great things that what can't be cured should be
endured, and endured cheerfully. I am not advocating slovenly
and careless endurance of little vexations which may be remedied.
Let them be set right by all means, and the more quietly as
well as quickly the better. But I have observed people who
were most ludicrously discomposed by trifles which neither they
nor anyone else could remedy, and which should have been overlooked
with a smile, if noticed at all. There are many overly finicky
people in the world, who groan over such trifling irritations. It is really ludicrous to hear
the gravity with which some people will allude to the fact of the
road being dusty, even alleging that as a reason for not going
for a walk. Others are as much afraid of
a shower, others of too much sunshine, some are terrified
at the idea of being overheated. There is no end to these idle
fancies and fears. If you laugh at these miserable
people, then they think you are unfeeling. If you sympathize
with them, then they multiply and increase their petty annoyances. Let us all beware of making much
of little irritations. Let us learn to laugh at them,
remembering how very annoying such complaints are to others
as well as bothersome to ourselves. A cheerful person who refuses
to notice trifles or be aggravated by them soon ceases to feel them. While to those who seem to find
a perverse pleasure in dwelling on and being daunted by them,
these little discomforts will actually become real cares, and
will eat out half the comfort of their lives. A cheerful heart
is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17, 22.