Willie was a little boy about seven years old. His father was a drunkard, and his mother had a very hard time to get along.
One day in winter, Willie said, “Mother, can’t I have a pair of new shoes? My toes are all out of these. The snow gets in, and I feel very cold.”
The tears came into his mother’s eyes as she said, “Well, Willie my dear boy, I hope soon to be able to get you a new pair.”
After waiting for some days Willie said again, “Oh, mother, it’s too bad! Can’t I get some shoes somehow?” He stood thinking a moment, and then said, “Oh, I know what to do. I’ll ask God to get them for me. Why didn’t I think of that before?” Then he went up to his own little room and knelt down by his bed, and covering his face with his hands, he said, “Oh God, father drinks; mother has no money; my feet get cold and wet; I want some new shoes. Please, God, get me a pair. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.”
Then he went downstairs and waited for an answer.
Shortly after this, a kind Christian lady who lived near them called in and asked Willie to take a walk with her. Willie went along. Pretty soon the lady saw Willie’s toes coming out of his shoes.
“Why, Willie,” she said, “look at your feet. They’ll freeze. Why didn’t you put on a better pair of shoes?”
“These are all I have, ma’am. Mother has no money to get them with. But I’ve asked God to get me a new pair, and I’m waiting till He sends them.”
Tears filled the lady’s eyes when she heard this. She took him straight to a shoe store and had him fitted with a nice new pair of shoes.
He thanked the lady very much for her kindness, and, as soon as he returned home, he showed them to his mother.
“Look, mother,” he said, “God has heard my prayer and sent me the shoes. Mrs. Gray’s money bought them, but God heard me ask for them, and I suppose He told Mrs. Gray to get them for me.” Then he kneeled right down beside his mother and thanked God for sending him the shoes.
Perhaps some of the boys and girls who read this paper know Jesus as their Saviour. Let us learn to tell Him our needs, and to thank Him for what He gives us.
And if any of those who read this paper do not know Jesus as their Saviour, let them remember that He wants to give them the forgiveness of their sins, and the gift of eternal life.
ML 01/07/1968