ABOUT forty years ago a well-known business man sat at his fireside. Nearby him, playing on the floor, was his only child, a beautiful little boy. It was early in the morning. The day's work was not begun; and while waiting for his breakfast, the father took up the daily paper to read. The dear child came and climbed up on his father's knee, and laying his hand gently on the paper, looked lovingly up into his face, and said:
"No, no, papa! Bible first. Bible first, papa."
Very soon after the dear child was taken sick, and died. As the father stood by the coffin in which his dead darling lay, and when he laid him in the cold grave, he seemed to hear his gentle voice repeating those simple words, "No, no, papa. Bible first."
He never forgot those words. They were ringing in his ears all the time. He made them the rule of his life. He put the Bible first in his heart, in his home, in his business, in everything. He became a Sunday school teacher, and the Lord blessed him, and made him a blessing to many.
And how lovely it is to think that it was these words from the lips of his dear little boy, whom the Good Shepherd took to be with Himself, that proved to be such an important link in this chain of blessing. May the Lord encourage you, dear children, to seek to shine for Him and to be a blessing at home, at school, at play, or wherever you go.
Jesus bids us shine
With a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle
Burning in the night;
In this world of darkness
So we must shine,
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.
Messages of the Love of God 8/17/1958