“In everything by prayer.” — Philippians 4:6.
IT was getting dusk, and the Missionary nurse had just come in from her round of sick visiting in a crowded part of East London, and had gone upstairs to her room. She was preparing, after a wash and a meal, to take her evening class of little girls, when two rings of the bell told her that she was wanted. Hurriedly going downstairs, she found in the hall a Jewish father in great distress because his little boy of four years was very ill with pneumonia. “Would Nurse come and see him?” Of course she would — at once. When she arrived at the bedside, her trained eye quickly discerned how bad the boy was. She made him as comfortable as possible and then told the parents she would come back after she had taken her class. Meantime relatives and friends got to hear of the boy’s illness, and when Nurse returned late at night she found that, in true Jewish fashion, a number of them were in the room sympathizing with the parents. “He won’t take either food or medicine, Nurse,” they said. “You all go to bed,” she replied, “and leave him to me.” Such was their trust in the Christian nurse — though not, alas, in her Lord — that, though in deep distress and anxiety, they all took her advice, retired to rest and left her in charge. Presently she offered the boy his food and medicine. He refused to take them. She tried to coax him, but he shook his head and resolutely declined. Realizing how necessary it was for the little patient to have both food and medicine if he was to recover, this Christian nurse did what was to her the natural thing to do — she told her Lord about it. Kneeling down by the bedside, she asked that if it was the Lord’s will, the boy might become willing to take what was given him and that he might recover. On rising from her knees, she again offered him the food. He quietly took all she gave him, food and medicine, and then, after being made comfortable for the night, slept for six hours. So her prayer of faith received a speedy answer and later a more complete one in the boy’s restoration to health. The joy and gratitude of parents and friends were great, and this answer to prayer led them to attend the meetings and listen to the Gospel Message.
“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isa. 65:24.)
G.W.L.B.