Peggy and her mother had gone downtown shopping one Saturday afternoon. They were in a large department store, looking at ladies’ dresses. Peggy wasn’t interested in these. She wanted to go to the floor that had all the toys.
“When can we see the toys?” Peggy asked.
“In just a minute,” replied her mother as she looked at some more dresses that were on sale.
A few minutes later, Peggy said again, “Please, Mommy, let’s go see the toys.”
“All right, we’ll go now,” replied her mother, and off they went.
Three flights of moving stairs brought them to the toy department. As they walked in, an electric train with real lights and a noisy whistle was speeding along through tunnels and under little bridges. In another corner were all the pretty dolls, and then there were games. Peggy wanted to stay there all day just looking at everything. She wandered from one toy to another, having such a good time!
Then she saw a beautiful dollhouse that looked almost real enough to live in. After she had looked in all the windows, she called her mother: “Mommy, come see this dollhouse!”
When her mother didn’t answer, Peggy looked around quickly, but she couldn’t see her. There were lots of people all around, but not her mother. Peggy called louder, “Mommy, Mommy!” When there was still no answer, Peggy started to cry. “Mommy, where are you?” she sobbed. Some of the other people and sales clerks tried to help her, but all Peggy would say through her tears was, “I want my Mommy!”
Peggy was lost! As she sat in one of the little chairs surrounded by all the things that had interested her, the only thing she wanted was her mother. Suddenly, she thought she heard a familiar voice. She stopped crying to listen.
“Peggy, Peggy, where are you?” It was her mother!
“Here I am, Mommy,” she called as she ran to her mother. “I’m so glad you found me. I was lost and scared.”
But she didn’t have time to say much more, because Mother was hugging Peggy tightly in her arms. “I was frightened, too,” she whispered to Peggy.
Peggy had been lost for a little while before she realized it. As long as she didn’t know she was lost, she enjoyed looking at all the toys. She was having such a good time until she discovered that her mother was not near her. Then she became frightened, knowing she was lost.
Perhaps there are some children reading this story who are lost and don’t know it. You are happy and having a good time. But actually you are lost, because you are not near to God and you cannot find your own way. God can see you, and He wants to take you by the hand and show you the way. Don’t run away from Him. He loves you and wants to save you. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). He sent the Lord Jesus to die for you. Believe Him and accept Him as your Saviour. He will be a Father to you, staying close by all the time and never letting you out of His sight. He will take care of you until He has you at home in heaven.
He gives us a promise in John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28): “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”
ML-08/16/1981