Welcome to our Sunday Talks, an exclusive series for the patrons of the inspirational living podcast.

Today's reading was edited and adapted from

Things to Live for by James Russell Miller, published in 1896.

All life is serious.

We are not butterflies to flutter a little while in the air, and then drop into the dust.

The words we speak and the things we do are not snowflakes dropping into the water, a moment white, then gone forever, but are the beginnings

of immortalities. We are not done with anything in life as it passes from our hands. Nothing is

indifferent. There is a moral character in all that we do. Either we are a blessing of the

world or sowing the seed of a curse on those around us. It becomes us, therefore, to give conscientious

thought to our entire life. Words are wonderful things. They may become adornments in the life of the

one to whom they are spoken. They may give happiness, courage, comfort, or inspiration. Indeed,

there have been single words which have changed destinies.

Then there are also words which are only rubbish, wood chips, hay and stubble.

Too much of the common conversation of the street, cafe and table is poor building material

to put into human lives. Too much of it is only idle words.

Too much is criticism of the absent. Hurtful gossip about people. Too much of it is wrangling

in bitterness. Beyond words, we must think of our companionships, for our

companions make us. Every person who takes a half-mile walk with us, or talks with us ten minutes,

lays something on the walls of our life and character.

The books we read also do their part in our character building, for they mold our thoughts.

As we think, so we grow.

Trifling thoughts create a flippant shallow life.

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