Pansy’s Words of Wisdom – Isabella Alden

The Only Cure

Published on October 18, 2022October 17, 2022 by Isabella Alden2 Comments

Isabella published these words of wisdom in an 1895 issue of The Pansy magazine:

Pansies for Thoughts

Published on September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 by Isabella Alden16 Comments

Yesterday you read a lovely letter Isabella wrote to the students of an elementary school, thanking them for planting a tree in her honor.

Isabella’s writings—her books, stories, letters, and lessons—are filled with quote-worthy lines. Here’s an example from her novel, Tip Lewis and His Lamp:

In the story, The Reverend Mr. Holbrook asked that question of young Tip Lewis to help him realize that his resentment toward another boy was jeopardizing his own standing with God.

It was Isabella’s way of illustrating the Bible verse: “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

That was Isabella’s genius: she had a talent for explaining the Bible in terms anyone—young or old—could understand.

One of the greatest admirers of Isabella’s talent was her niece, Grace Livingston Hill. When Grace was twenty-three years old, she was the newly published author of her first book, A Chautauqua Idyll. And she was ready for her next project.

Grace turned her attention to her Aunt Isabella’s books. She combed through them, selected inspiring quotes, and organized them into a daily devotional, with each quote accompanied by an applicable verse from the Bible.

The result of Grace’s efforts was called Pansies for Thoughts, and it became her second published book.

The original cover for Grace’s 1888 devotional, Pansies for Thoughts.

Isabella wrote a brief Preface for the book, with a prayer that . . .

The Holy Spirit would use these pages in a way to lead some souls daily higher, and higher, even into the “shining light” of the “perfect day.”

Pansies for Thoughts is a wonderful daily devotional, and you can read the book for free! Click here to download the e-book version for your Kindle, Nook, or tablet. Or you can download a PDF version to print or read on your computer.

This post is part of our Blogiversary Celebration! Leave a comment below or on Isabella’s Facebook page to be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card! We’ll announce the winner on Friday morning, September 21!

Quotable

Published on October 1, 2015September 27, 2015 by Isabella AldenLeave a comment

Are you quite happy as a Christian? Do you find your love growing stronger and your hopes brighter from day to day?

—from Ester Ried

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Quotable

Published on January 16, 2014March 30, 2017 by Isabella AldenLeave a comment

Pansy 11 edited I know I love the Lord, and I know that He will not destroy me, for I have in my heart the assurance of His promise.

—Ruth Erskine’s Crosses

Quotable

Published on November 1, 2013December 4, 2013 by Isabella AldenLeave a comment

Young man, God is speaking to you; He wants you; wants you today; wants your brains, and your strength, and your influence for Himself. Why do you wait? You know you need Him.

—Judge Burnham’s Daughters

Quotable

Published on October 21, 2013March 30, 2017 by Isabella AldenLeave a comment

Clearly if she wanted the sun, it was her part to open blinds and draw back curtains; clearly if she wanted mental light, it was her part to use the means that God had placed at her disposal.

—from The Chautauqua Girls at Home

Quotable

Published on October 21, 2013March 30, 2017 by Isabella AldenLeave a comment

How many people have such marked and abiding faith in Christ Jesus, that when we talk of them we say, “I heard that Miss So and So had the most implicit faith in the power of Christ to keep her?” Now wouldn’t that be a strange thing to say?