Nancy felt so lonely. Papa and Mama had both died, and there was no one who really loved her now. She was only three years old, but she was old enough to miss Mama, and to wonder what would happen to her now. Where would she live, and what did it mean when all the older people shook their heads and called her an “orphan”?
A relative agreed to take Nancy for a while, and so she went to her house. It did not seem like home—how could any place be home without Mama and Papa? Nancy stayed with this relative for a while, but life was often difficult in Bolivia, the country where Nancy lived. Soon the relative found that she could no longer take care of Nancy. There was a kind lady at the bakery in a town nearby. Maybe she would take Nancy.
So little Nancy was taken to another home, and although the bakery lady was kind, Nancy still felt lonely. But she soon felt even worse because the bakery lady died. Again, Nancy wondered what would happen to her. Would there ever be a home for her? Would anybody love her?
The husband of the bakery lady kept Nancy, but not long after this he married another lady. His new wife, Doria Lupita, did not want an orphan girl around the house. She felt she had enough to do without looking after an orphan. “Couldn’t we give her away?” Dona Lupita asked her husband. So as different customers came into the bakery to buy bread, they would ask if anyone wanted Nancy.
Nancy, no doubt, felt sad and fearful, but God was tenderly watching over her. He sent a kind Christian lady named Mrs. Bolivar into the bakery.
Dona Lupita saw her chance. “Would you like to take this little girl home with you?” she asked.
Mrs. Bolivar talked it over with her husband, and they both wanted her. And so Nancy was taken to her fourth home.
This home seemed very different to Nancy. The kind Christian man, Mr. Bolivar, was happy to have Nancy in his home and he cared for her most tenderly. He knew that the kind Saviour, the Lord Jesus, loved little children and had taken them into His arms and blessed them. He felt that God would have him take this little child and care for her and love her, too.
Nancy at last began to feel like she had a real home and someone who loved her. She sat beside Mr. Bolivar as he tended his little store selling rice, flour and a few other things. It was not long before she began calling Mr. Bolivar “Papa.” He greatly enjoyed Nancy’s company and took her to all the Bible meetings that he attended. She happily sat by his side as they read God’s precious Word, the Bible. She learned about the loving Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who loves even little orphan girls and can cleanse them from their sins. She soon believed that this kind Saviour had indeed shed His blood to wash away her sins. Nancy was happy at last. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
A few months later little Nancy was playing with some bricks when a scorpion bit her. Mr. Bolivar was concerned because such a bite can sometimes be quite dangerous. Just to be sure, he decided to take his little Nancy to the children’s hospital.
On the way to the hospital, Nancy asked through her tears, “Papa, can I have a bag of popcorn when we get back home... a whole bag just special for me?” Mr. Bolivar said yes she could, but little did he know that that would be the last request that dear little Nancy would ever make.
The doctors decided that Nancy needed a certain drug, and they gave it to her. Sorry to say, Nancy had a reaction to the drug and died almost immediately. Mr. Bolivar was very sad. His precious Nancy who had only recently found a real home with him was gone. The Lord Jesus, who had called little children and blessed them, had now called Nancy to His home in heaven. Oh, what a comfort it was to Mr. Bolivar to know that she was in the best home! She would never have to leave it for another one. It would be her home forever.
Boys and girls, do you have a home in heaven? Sin can never enter God’s home in heaven, but God has provided a way that your sins may be forgiven. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Nancy’s home in heaven will also be yours for all eternity. “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:22In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2).
ML-07/30/1989