But we who are more fortunately situated--we who enjoy the love of God and of our fellow-beings, and who, in return, love those in our homes, in our circle of acquaintances and in the church--let us tell one another about it in a good and nice way. So much joy of love is lost--just because it finds no expression. For this reason so many gradually come to doubt that they really are being loved. The congregation wrote it on the wall of the festival hall, ornamented with leaves and flowers. It went out of its way to say it in just such a way as to make its old bishop feel deeply delighted. It pays to exert yourself in this way. Let it be written with large letters between minister and congregation, between man and wife, between parents and children--yes, let it be written with large letters--and wind about them the leaves of the forest, the flowers of the field--everywhere: We love you, and we tell you so! Then our lives will become rich with the joy of love. TO BEAR BURDENS (GAL. 6, 2) "BEAR ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," Paul says. "No, thank you!" you say, "I have quite enough in taking care of my own burdens. If I am to be troubled with those of others in addition, life will be intolerable." Nevertheless--do you think Paul speaks aimlessly? Or isn't it rather the case that there is something of _relief_ in bearing burdens for others--something of a _gain_? Think of a wheat field: One straw stands close beside the other. The wind-storm sweeps the field. The wheat bends down in billowy undulations under the heavy pressure of the wind, but rights itself stronger than ever before. The close-standing straws bore the pressure together. Then the wheat is harvested. A few straws are left standing. The wind again sweeps across the field, the lonely straws bend down to the soil--and lie there. They are broken. Singly, they could not resist the pressure of the storm. Thus in the life of mankind. Great burdens can be shouldered with ease when shouldered in common while the smaller burdens may crush and destroy those who stand all alone. There is relief in bearing burdens for others. But you ask: Dare I, a single individual, try to shoulder the burdens in my home, in the church? Suppose that in one or more instances I were the only one to do so. The others left it all to me, although they had the same obligations that I have--what then? Will I accomplish anything but being crushed under the weight of the burdens? How about Jesus Christ when He, _all alone_, bore the sin of mankind? He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, as the prophet had foreseen.