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“ b l b e v e r even consider a couch or |r| chair unless it’s ‘ Scotchguard- ed,’ ” my friend and interior dec orator, Margarett Steele, said. “Un less it’s what?” was my reply. Then she told me all the virtues of a fa bric that has been processed to re sist stain and soil. This is now avail able in fabrics from couches and chairs to children’s play clothes. It’s quite an achievement. Many times in the months before we moved into our new home, we chatted about carpets, drapes and color schemes. The conversation about “ Scotchguarding,” however, continually remained with me. The thought that they could take an or dinary piece of material and build into it a soil resister and not change the looks or the feel of the fabric really fascinated me. Wouldn’t it be great if we could “ Scotchguard” the whole house? The idea began to form. Why not “ Scotchguard” the house, the yard and even the family? When the big day arrived, we moved into our new home (or rather my husband and the movers did; I filled in for a speaker at a luncheon). By late evening, everything was in, the beds made up, and it was time to “ Scotchguard” the house. My husband took our children and me by the hand and led us into the living room. When he bowed his head, it was to pray. He asked God to touch all the weary, lonely people who would visit our living room and to let the soft blue of the carpet, the white walls and the gold-touched cherubs on them speak of heavenly things to our guests. Then we went to the kitchen. I prayed, “ Help me always to cook with love, care and Christian hospitality.” Finally we went to all the bedrooms. I remem ber when we got to Rick’s room, he prayed, “ Oh, thank you, Lord, for helping Dad buy this home, and for all the work mother did. (I refin ished some chests.) When I have friends over, help me to do what you want me to.” Thus into every room we prayed that our Lord would “ Scotchguard” it with His blessings, love, divine guidance, keeping us ever grateful to Him. When I think of the people we have influenced for Christ in our living room: the teen-agers from our Sunday school class we’ve fed in our kitchen, and the everyday living we have done in our home for two years now, I thank God He has continued the “ Scotchguarding.” Not separat ing us from the soil of sin in this world, but continually helping us to resist Satan, to live holy lives and to know that even IN sorrow our lives are covered, even as the He
It was the second week in Septem ber — fust a few days before the beginning of the school year. Our fam ily table conversation was sparked with the excitement of new school clothes, a pretty fourth-grade teacher, and the daily assignments of "terribly hard !” arithmetic problems. Mother and Dad were flinging chal lenges, encouraging all four of us chil dren to make the year one of top achievement. I remember hurling an eager ques tion in Mother’ s direction, “I f 1 get three A ’s on my report card, toill you be pleased?” Mother’ s answer was spontaneous: “I’ll be very pleased.” “ What if I get five A ’s — will you be more pleaded?” “Five A ’8 would be wonderful,” Mother smiled. The build-up was exciting. The third question topped the others. “ What if I get ALL A ’s for the whole year?” I waited breathlessly. Mother leaned over the table and placed her hand on my chubby arm. Her eyes shone with tenderness — “ That would please me most of all!” “ That would please me most of all!” Surely our distinguishing mark as Christians should be our confidence in the matchless love of Christ and the total yielding of our affection to Him in return. I f we love Jesus Christ su premely, our consuming desire will be not only to please Him, but to please Him MOST OF ALL! By Ruth Calkin Young people are invited to send in questions to Mrs. Ruth Calkins.
brews were protected from the death angel, by the blood of a slain lamb, our Saviour. So are we! SCHOOL DAZE One of the first things children learn at school is that other chil dren get allowances. Many a child who watches tele vision for hours will go down in history — not to mention math, English and geography. There’s something encouraging about the fact that the teachers of American children have to go to summer school and take special courses to keep ahead of them. —John M. Henry
KANDY KAYE SAYS,
TH O U G H T FOR TO D A Y May it be my deep desire Just to live for You alone; May I please You MOST, Lord Jesus, As You make my heart — Your home! "But seek ye FIRST the King dom of God, and his righteous ness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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