A SHORT time ago, the wife of a gateman in Belgium, was acting for her husband in his temporary absence, when her little boy strayed in front of an express train. Without a moment’s hesitation the mother sprang across the rails, and seizing her child, tossed it upon a bank the very second before she was herself caught by the engine and killed, while the child escaped with but a few bruises.
This is one among the many instances of the devoted love of a mother for her child. It is not, indeed, often that it is called to so severe a test as it was on this occasion. But in much more quiet and homely ways, the deep love of a mother is constantly shown. What would our homes, for the most part be, except for the active and self-denying love of a good mother? With what attention and care she carries on the daily training and support of her children! And how little do they understand and appreciate what she is doing for their benefit! Yet she goes on, day after day, week after week, and year after year, toiling and caring for them. And how happy is a God-fearing mother, if after all, she sees her children walking in paths of truth and godliness, and in due time becoming sensible of the blessing of having a good mother.
But a great part of the blessing is missed, if we do not see that it is God who has planted this love in her heart; and that it is He who is entitled to praise and thanksgiving for so good a gift. This will not make us love our mother less, but much more; seeing that she is the channel of His, goodness and mercy to us in things pertaining to her province. It is blessed to know and to remember, that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:1717Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17).
And yet, even the love of a mother may fail, as, alas! we sometimes learn by sorrowful proofs. But, how blessed it is to know that the love of God never fails. How precious to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, are the words in Rom. 8:38,3938For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38‑39), “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” And how encouraging to the sinner is the testimony that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). T.