Mildred Hansen and her mother know there is a God. They also know that He stands ready to honor His promise, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)). Not only do they know that God is always on duty, but they have learned how much He cares for small children. It all happened on a western ranch when Mildred was only three years old.
Their ranch house was surrounded by grassy lawns and trees and enclosed by a white picket fence. A lane ran alongside the fence on one side, leading to the barns and corrals behind. The yard was a perfect place for Mildred to play.
One beautiful day, Mother let Mildred go out to play in the afternoon. She was able to watch her in the yard through the open kitchen window. What she did not know was that someone had left the fence gate along the lane partly open. She also did not know that her husband, who had been gone for two days with his cowboys, was approaching the lane from the range with a herd of horses, wild and mean and running like a wolf pack.
Mother heard the rumbling, a muffled thunder that actually shook the house. Running to the window she saw them filling the roadway, charging in a cloud of dust down upon . . . Mildred! Yes, Mildred had found the open gate and was now sitting in the dusty lane. Her daddy was behind the herd, unable to see her or know the almost certain death he was herding upon his small daughter.
“Oh, Lord, have mercy! Lord, save her!” the anguished mother cried. There was only time for the cry. She ran out screaming and waving her arms at the men.
In only a few moments the herd of horses had passed. The stricken parents found Mildred . . . still sitting, covered with dirt from head to toe, but very much alive and crying loudly. Mildred was not hurt at all!
Only God could have protected her, and the parents realized that fact immediately. A strong angel? Or did God change the excitable, wild nature of those horses long enough to cause each one to leap neatly over Mildred? He was the One who made them, and He could control them.
Yes, God cares for children, and He cares for you too. Do you want to know how much He loves you? He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world especially to save you from Satan. Satan has lured you to sin many times, for you were born with a nature that loves to sin. “All have sinned” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). “The soul that sinneth, it shall die,” we read in Ezekiel 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4). But, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). He had to die - He had to take your punishment in order to save you. Have you accepted His salvation offered to anyone who will receive Him?
ML-08/05/2001