A LITTLE fellow about four or five years old, was returning from school one day. He bounded into the house, exclaiming as he hung his hat up in the hall, “This is my home, this is my home!”
A lady was then visiting his mother, and was sitting in the parlor. She said to him, “Ernie, the house next door is just the same as this; suppose you go in there and hang your hat up in the lobby; wouldn’t that be your home as well as this?”
“No, ma’am,” said Ernie, very earnestly. “It would not.”
“Why not? What makes this house your home more than that?” asked the lady.
Ernie had never thought of this before. But after a moment’s pause he ran up to his mother, throwing his arms around her neck, and said, “Because dear Mother lives here!”
Wasn’t that a lovely answer from such a little fellow? It is the presence and company of those we love which make “home, sweet home” on earth; and it is just so with our heavenly home — the Father’s house of “many mansions” which our Saviour went to prepare for those that love Him. He said to the dying thief, “To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43).
ML-02/08/1970