Content and Happy in the Lord
Many years ago there lived a poor widow and her only son, twenty-eight years of age, having been blind thirteen years.
The few necessities of life, the mother earned by selling small articles, and by working for the village people. The blind son remained at home all alone, praying and spinning. Eveningss, when mother came home, the old handed-down treasures were brought out; these were the large Bible, a, song book, and a few other good books of a Christian character, then mother read to herself and her son, and the blind man’s soul was lightened, and warmed by hearing the Word of Life. To their mutual sorrow, the mother had been compelled to read very loud of late, for the ears of her beloved son were beginning to close, also.
One, Lord’s day after the meeting, our blind man, led by boy, appeared at the village school-master’s house to see the preacher who was stopping there. From passing strangers, our friend had heard that a young girl was performing wonderful cures on many sick, and such as could get no more help from physicians were made well. Now he desired to know if the Word of God would allow him to ask the help of this girl. The minister who had to go to another place just then to preach the gospel, promised to see him and talk with him about this matter some other more convenient time.
A few days afterward he was able to redeem his promise, and appeared in the little room of the blind man, who sat in a dark corner, occupied with the yarn he had spun. The servant of the Lord sat down and began to talk about his plan more in detail. In a loving way he told him how it might, after all, be a deception, and not of God; but yet that God was able to do wonderful things, and often through weak vessels shows his power to deliver and to heal.
“It is not impatience at the sufferings that God in His wisdom has allowed to come upon me, has made me wish to be healed, I have been, as you know, blind about thirteen years, but the Lord has not left me without comfort in this of darkness. You gave me a verse shortly before my eyes began to trouble me.
‘Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’ Ps. 119:105.
I am not sad or discouraged because I am blind, for I know Jesus and His light I sit here all day alone, for mother must go out and earn the living, but the Lord is near me while I spin, and He refreshes my soul with the precious verses and songs I have learned in my youth. And I meditate upon what mother has been reading the night before. Our meals are, plain and sometimes very little, but I have always had enough to satisfy our hunger; I know, too, that the Lord will provide in the future, even should He take mother before me, I am altogether content and happy in the Lord. It is another reason which has made me desire to seek the help of this girl. Sometime ago my hearing, also, became affected and it is probable I may become entirely deaf. You will call to remembrance the great thunderstorm we had last summer. Mother had gone out and left me locked up in the house. After a few hours she returned with some women, and they spoke together of the awful thunder and lightning. Then a great fear and anxiety came over me, because I had not heard anything. And since all around us seems to indicate that the Lord’s coming is very near at hand, I was afraid I should not be able to hear the sound of the trumpet which will announce His coming. You see this is my only burden, and I had wished to be healed of my deafness at least, though I might not get my sight back.”
At this point the Lord’s servant could not refrain himself any longer. Taking hold of both hands of the blind, he said with tearful eyes “When the Lord Jesus comes, He with open wide your ears and your eyes:
“When the Lord Jesus comes, He will open wide your ears and you eyes, and reveal Himself to you in His grace and glory. He will never leave you here, and will not forget you.”
Then the face of the blind began to brighten up and tears of joy filled his eyes. From that time on he desired no more to be cured by that young girl; the anxiety of his heart had been taken away from him.
The Lord’s servant has not forgotten this little incident in the cottage of the blind. Often when he would get impatient, and life’s burden and cares press heavy on him he would think of the simple words of the bling man:
“I am content and happy in the Lord,” and with same and humility he would confess how far he was yet behind even this poor blind man, and instead of murmuring, thanksgiving and praise would go up to the Giver of all good.
ML 07/28/1940