HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year, Juniors!

The morning of the first day of every year we enter into a contest.  We see who will be the first to give that day’s greeting.  Before I was awake this morning my boy ran into my room shouting, “Happy New Year!  Happy New Year!” He won in the contest.

Now, however, you are in Church and it is not proper for you to speak out loud, so I am able to get ahead of you.  A Happy New Year to you, every one.

Well, what will make this year a happy year for you?  I will tell you.  Let us take this word Happy, and instead of writing it across the page let us write it straight up and down.

H stands for Helpful.  You cannot have a happy year unless you are helpful.  He who does not try to be helpful is never very happy.

A for Active.  I want your year to be full of activity.  I hope you will be able to skate and slide down hill many days this winter, and that you will enter into all the spring and summer sports with zest and joy.

P for Playful.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  You will want to do something other than play, of course.  You will have some home responsibilities, but sandwiched in with the work may there be a good measure of play.

P for Purposeful.  Yes, early hi life you should form a purpose.  Two questions will help you gain that purpose. 1st—­What is it that I want to do? 2nd—­What is it that God wants me to do?

Y for Youth.

    Helpful
    Active
    Playful
    Purposeful
    Youth.

Memory verse, Psalm 19:  14

    “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
    acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”

Memory hymn, [572]

    "Break, newborn year, on glad eyes break."

GROWTH

This second Sunday morning of the New Year I desire to talk to you about growth.  The most important holiday afterthought is the thought of growth.  You are going to grow every day of this year.  Whenever I see a boy on his way to school, or on the field or gymnasium floor, running, romping, playing, I say to myself, “Can it be possible that this restless, energetic lad was ever a quiet, helpless little babe in the cradle!” Yes, he was, but he has grown, and he is going to keep right on growing.

It was said of the boy Jesus, “He grew.”  His growth was natural.  There was nothing of precociousness in the childhood of Jesus.  He grew, just as every boy grows.

    “A simple-hearted child was he,
    And he was nothing more;
    In summer days, like you and me,
    He played about the door,
    Or gathered, where the father toiled,
    The shavings from the floor.”