I HAD been longing and praying for some work to do, or some message to carry for Jesus, when I was ordered to do duty in a strange ward, as the sister in charge there had gone away for some hours. I felt very pleased to take this new duty, especially in her absence, for this would give me a freedom which I could not have while she was there; and even in the wards there is often a jealousy about speaking to each other’s patients.
Passing along the bedsides I observed a poor girl, who had, along with other ailments, fallen into dropsy. She was reading a book, but seeing a new nurse approaching, she laid it down upon the bed. I picked it up, and saw that it was entitled: “Food for the children of God.” I expressed pleasure to see her reading such a nice book, and she said it was indeed a very good book. “And are you one of God’s children?” I asked.
“O, no!” she replied, “I am not able to say that; I wish I were.”
I had only time for a few words, but I tried to encourage her to seek first to come to Christ, for then she would fully enjoy the food as her own.
Later on I had to give her medicine, and when she had taken it I said—
“If you could take Christ as easily as you have taken this medicine, would you not do its”
“O, yes,” she said, “I wish I could.”
“You can,” I said. “‘The gift of God is eternal life.’ He will give it to you; He waits to bless and save you.”
I had no opportunity to visit that ward again until a good many days after. My dropsical friend was much weaker. I slipped in, and approached her bed. She at once recognized me, and putting her arms around my neck as I bent over her, she said—
“O nurse, I have it! I am not afraid to die now!”
“What do you have?” I asked.
“Eternal life, and I shall never perish, no one shall pluck me out of His hands.” Then she added— “Nurse, I have you to thank;” but I stopped her by saying—
“Both you and I have to thank God, for He loved us, and gave His only-begotten and well-beloved Son, that we might have eternal life through Him.”
ML 07/29/1917