A POOR widow had a son, whom she loved very dearly, for he was her only child, and very much like his father. Her love met with no kind return: nothing that she said was heeded by him. He would do just what he liked, in spite of all his mother’s wishes and entreaties.
When about sixteen years of age, this stubborn lad left his mother without bidding her good-bye. Many an anxious tearful night did she pass, wondering what was become of him. About a year after, he was brought home very ill. He had fallen from a scaffold; fever had seized his brain, and for several days his life was in great danger. His mother was ever near him, doing all of which her loving heart could think. At the end of a fortnight his senses returned. At first he wondered where he was, and such was his weakness, that he did not wish to open his eyes, but lay very still, trying to call to mind what had taken place. He soon thought of the fall by which he had been stunned, then called to mind what he had been doing some time before this, and felt a little ashamed of himself. “But where am I now?” thought he. While thus thinking, he heard his mother’s voice saying very softly, “He has had a fine sleep; I think he is better.” The sick lad then said to himself, “I find I am at home, in my own little room, with my mother to nurse me; and she still loves me.” Next came such thoughts as these: “I ought to love my mother for all her love to me, and try to make her happy. I do love her, and feel very sorry that I have caused her so much sorrow.”
At that moment he felt his mother was leaning over him; her gentle hand was laid on his still aching head; a warm tear fell on his cheek, and a soft kiss was impressed on his forehead. He could contain himself no longer. He opened his eyes, which were filled with tears, looked up in his parent’s face, as he had not for many a long day, and said, “My dear mother!” His look, his words, his tears, his pressure of her hand, all went to the mother’s heart, and made her weep tears of joy. This was the beginning of many happy days; for the mother loved God, and she had the pleasure of seeing her son love Him too, as well as love herself. Now, was it not true that this mother loved her son before he loved her? And was it not the knowledge and belief of her love to him that led him to love her? Was not her love very strong? And was not his love quite reasonable? And did it not make him very happy? Now apply this to yourself. God loves His children wherever they are, far more than that mother loved her child. Well may the Christian exclaim, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:1010Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10).
Oh, what love the Father bore us!
Oh, how precious in His sight!
When He gave His Church to Jesus —
Jesus, His whole soul’s delight.
Though our nature’s fall in Adam
Seemed to shut us out from God,
Thus it was His counsel brought us
Nearer still, through Jesu’s blood;
For in Him we found redemption,
Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Christ and we, through grace, are one.