ONE Lord’s day afternoon, while I was present at a service at K. two little girls about six and eight years old seated themselves next to me.
They were poorly, but neatly dressed. I was not particularly pleased to have such neighbors near me, as small children are generally very restless, which, to me, is quite annoying, but as the sermon progressed, I could only wonder how these little ones could sit as long, listening so intently to the preacher.
I offered the youngest one my hymn book, that she might look at a picture in it, because I thought the child would soon begin to show impatience. She took the book, looked at the picture, then handed it back to me, and resumed her quiet attention as before.
The good behavior of the little ones pleased me so much that, at the end of the service, I gave each a shining 50 cent piece. Looking at me with surprise, they thanked me for it. They waited at the door for me, holding out their hands to thank me once more.
Soon after this I read in a Sunday-paper a little article relating the following:
“In a certain family there was great poverty. One Sunday morning there was no more money in the house, and no food except a little coffee and a few rolls. Mother and children passed the latter from one to another, until finally they divided them among themselves. In the afternoon, when the hunger was felt keenly, the six-year old girl said to her sister.
‘Come, let us go to the afternoon service, perhaps God will give us bread there!’ Her sister replied thoughtfully,
‘How can God give us bread through the preaching?’ But the little one was not so easily discouraged, and said;
‘Why not? Didn’t the Saviour feed five thousand people after His sermon?’
At that remark, the older sister did not know what to reply, so the two went together. There they were seated next to an elderly, kind looking gentleman. During the service he gave them a picture to look at, and finally presented each of them with a 50-cent piece. They hastened to a bakery where they bought some bread, which they took home triumphantly to their mother, giving her also the rest of the money.”
Dear children do you trust the Lord to give you what you need, and go to Him in times of trial? He will never leave nor forsake those who have accepted Him as their Saviour.
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:17.
If the gentleman gave the money to the little girls as giving it to the Lord, he shall receive a reward from Him.
“The poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to the poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Dent. 15:11.
ML 07/03/1927