Daniel W., is a dear little lamb in the fold of the Good Shepherd. At four years of age he learned to lisp in simplest trust the precious name of Jesus. Jesus is Daniel’s own Saviour. He believes in His death for sinners, and knowing something, of the naughtiness of his own heart, has turned to Him for rest, and knew even at that early age, what it was to be “Safe in the arms of Jesus.”
Daniel’s parents didn’t believe in children “coming to Jesus” (or grown-up people either,) and they would never have spoken one word about the Saviour to their dear little boy. But Daniel’s grandmother knew Jesus, and loved Him. She told the little fellow the sweet story of His love in coming down from heaven to die for sinners; and when it pleased the Lord to take the dear old lady to Himself, a Christian servant girl carried on the work already begun in the heart of the child. It was her great delight in leisure, moments to speak of all the glorious
One afternoon, Daniel’s mother was taking tea at the house of a married brother-in-law. This man’s wife and family were present at the table and dung the conversation, Daniel’s mother said,
“O! what do you think, my little Dan has begun to pray.”
“Indeed !” said her brother-in-law, “then you put your foot down firmly, and stop this before it goes further. Had I been firm with M. at first, she would never have imbibed the foolish notions she has nor have taken the step she did.”
M., was one of the daughters of this man, who, some time before had been converted to God, and who, in speaking to her unsaved brothers and sisters of the good news of God’s grace, had been severely rebuked for “talking cant.”
Dan, was a delicate child, and dearly loved as he was by his mother, his weakly condition gave her no small anxiety. The tears stood in her eyes as she listened to her brother’s words—
“O,” she said, “I found him one night on his knees before his cot, and I lifted him up and said—
‘O! Dan, you must not do that—it’s all nonsense, child—it’s no good your praying to Jesus.’”
I put him in bed, wrapping the bed clothes round him, and as I kissed him, said,
“Now do go to sleep darling, there’s a good boy.”
But he cried and cried, O! so bitterly as if his little heart would break. It pained me so to hear him. O! Charles, I cannot stop him. I must let him pray. If it doesn’t do him any good, it, cannot do him any harm.”
Dan knows that Jesus is his Saviour and Lord, and he loves to speak to Him in prayer. He was helped to speak of Him to others.
My dear young reader, is Dan’s Jesus yours? Has He saved you?
If we know Him as our Saviour, we will want to talk to Him, for He is our best Friend, and we will thank Him for all He has done for us. We will also pray for our unsaved relatives and friends, that they too may accept Him as their own Saviour, and to know the joy in Him that we know.
ML 02/25/1940