Recently I was reading Talks to Girls by Eleanor A. Hunter. Though I am not sure how gospel-centered the book is, there are some sweet words of wisdom. Among them is this gem on sharing pleasures:
... there is no surer way to get a good influence over people than to let them share your pleasures. That new girl, for instance, who has just come to your school: she is rather shy and awkward perhaps; she does not look very interesting. Do not think you have done your duty by that girl when you have asked her to Sunday school and Christian Endeavor. Probably she will not accept such a formal invitation. But if you will not ask her to play tennis and to lunch with the other girls on some Saturday, she will believe in you and love you and will go with you anywhere you like. Then did you ever think that there are people in this world---and some of them are young girls too---who never have any good times of their own? They have to work hard, and they know wha it is to have constant care and anxiety. Sometimes they catch glimpses of you, my happy girls, flitting along in your pretty clothes. They see your smiling faces now and then, they hear the cheerful ring of your voices as you pass by and that is all they know about good times. Think of them, and let them come within the charmed circle too, and give than a little taste of lighthearted happiness, to let them know you love them and sympathize with them. I think God often teaches us by joy as well as sorrow, by pleasure as well as pain; and if we receive our good times unselfishly and thankfully as coming from His hand, we never need be afraid to take them, for we shall be nobler and better for every one which we enjoy.
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