Mary was a young servant maid who knew and loved the Lord Jesus. One day she was in her room putting on her hat and jacket to go out on a message, but her looking glass did not reflect a happy figure. She was annoyed at having been taken from her work, and could not repress her feelings.
“Mary! Mary!” cried her mistress, “are you not ready yet?” Mary obeyed the call and at once started out.
It was a charming morning. Mary soon quieted her impatience, and she had not gone far before she judged herself for her failure, and soon regained her usual good humor.
“It was very wrong,” thought she, “to murmur because I had to leave my work to go and inquire about poor Miss S.” Here a shade of sadness crossed her face. “They say she is dying,” she continued, “but if she loves the Lord Jesus she has no fear, I am sure of that.”
Mary knew a little of the love of Jesus towards herself, but she had not yet learned to give up everything for Him, to be subject in everything, and to overcome her impatience in her little trials and disappointments.
Near one of the windows of the house where Mary was going, and which she was now approaching, sat a lady looking out at her, with a heart full of sorrow and bitterness.
“Why,” sighed she, “should my child have to endure all these sufferings, while this young, maid is so happy?” and rising, she came forward to meet Mary as she entered the house, and said to her, “I suppose you have come from Mrs. E. for news about my daughter? Perhaps your bright and happy face may cheer her a little – come and see her, and deliver your message to herself.”
Mary, who had often been at the house to inquire after the invalid, followed the lady, surprised at such consideration for herself, a little waiting maid.
When they came to the bedroom, the lady left Mary, saying she would shortly return. Mary then turned to look at the pale and wasted face of the dying girl. Never before had she seen such a sight.
“Is she asleep?” said Mary. No, for opening her eyes the sick one said, partly to herself and partly to the young maid, “I am so tired! So tired!” In a moment all Mary’s timidity vanished. Her heart was filled with pity for the poor sufferer, and approaching the bed, her eyes fixed on the thin and wearied face, she said softly and tenderly: “Do you not know that Jesus came to give rest? He offers it to you now. He Himself says, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’” And growing yet bolder, she took a Bible, which she found near her, and opening to Matthew 11, she read again slowly the precious words of the Savior.
“Mark the place for me” said the sick one, “and tell me more about Jesus.”
In the few moments at her disposal Mary told the young girl all that she had realized in her own heart of Jesus and His love, and as she thus simply confessed how precious her Savior was to her, the sick girl exclaimed, “I understand, I see it now. O! how good He is!”
She had not time to say more. The lady returned, and Mary went back to her place, wondering at all that had happened.
Two weeks passed and Mary was sent again to the same house. She had heard, in the meantime, that the sick girl had died. As she made inquiries about her, one of the servants said that Miss S. had a very happy death. “She was quite changed after your visit,” she added. “I think they will give you her Bible, she left it for you.”
Thus in this simple and true account is shown how the grace of God meets souls in their need, and where there is faith in the words and work of the Lord Jesus, we see the blessed results and give glory to God.
May we, too, like Mary, speak a word of comfort to the weary and tell them of the love of the Lord Jesus, which we have received through faith in Him and His finished work.
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Eccl. 11:6).
“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul” (Psa. 66:16).