HATPINS AND BUTTONHOOKS

by Irving D. Larson

A little girl came running home after school and announced to her mother that she had learned how to punctuate. "That is very good," said her mother, "Tell me how you do it." "Well, mama," cried the excited little girl, "It's just as easy as it can be. If you say a thing that is so, you just put a hatpin after it; but if you are only asking if it is so, you put a buttonhook behind it." As we think about this, we conclude that there is a world of sound philosophy in the little girl's explanation. Actually, all of life resolves itself, sooner or later, into a matter of hatpins and buttonhooks, for life is made up of our affirmations and our questions.

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that our faith gives substance to things hoped for, and becomes the evidence of things not seen. An old writer once said, "Believe your beliefs, and doubt your doubts. Never doubt your beliefs, and never believe your doubts." God has called us to a life of faith, and our faith is founded on the Word of God. The basis of our faith is not the strength of our faith, but the faithfulness of the God in Whom our faith is placed. We can place our faith in Him with complete confidence, for God cannot deny Himself.

Is your faith made up of hatpins or buttonhooks? May God help us to keep the hatpins and buttonhooks of life in their proper places.


"little faith will bring your soul to Heaven, but great faith will bring Heaven to your soul." -Charles Spurgeon-