NELLIE was just twelve years of age and lived with her father and mother by the ocean. With them also was Nellie’s little niece, Gwen, whose parents had died when she was a tiny girl. Nellie made it her duty to guard her little niece, especially in stormy weather when the great waves would sometimes roll up the beach and overflow into their cottage garden.
One stormy day little Gwen, attracted by the high tide, wandered outside the garden gate and was swept from her feet by a great wave and carried into deep water. Nellie heard her cry of distress and rushing out she saw the little girl being carried out into the sea. Brave Nellie lost no time in wading out into the deep tide, and grasping Gwen by her dress, she dragged her back to safety.
It was a brave and timely rescue, and when the villagers heard of it, they came and complimented Nellie on her bravery. Nellie’s father, who was a Christian man, knelt beside little Gwen’s bed and praised the Lord for enabling his little daughter to rescue his little grandchild. He also asked the Lord to help Nellie to tell little Gwen of Jesus the Saviour who was able to save her from a much greater danger — that of losing her own soul.
Nellie was a bright little Christian, and telling her little charge of the sweet story of the Redeemer’s love, she sought to win her young and tender heart to the Lord. In doing so the love of Christ so filled Nellie’s own heart and she began to share in that blessed service of seeking to “rescue the perishing.” She took a Sunday school class in that village, and had the joy of hearing more than one confess the Lord Jesus as one’s personal Saviour. Her heart’s desire was also granted when she heard little Gwen too confess the Lord.
Nellie grew up to be a beautiful young lady, and loved and esteemed by all. Her father too was respected and spoken of as the “happiest man” in the village.
So it is those who seek to honor the Lord will be honored by Him.
HOW dearly doth God love us,
And this fair world of ours,
To spread blue sky above us,
And deck the earth with flower
There’s not a plant so lowly,
Nor bird that cleaves the air,
But tells, in accents holy,
His kindness, and His care.
ML-07/01/1973