THE little boy of whom I am going to tell you, learned to know that the words of God were meant for him and he learned to use them, too.
One day Freddy was reading a chapter with his mother and brother and sister before he went to bed. It was the fourth chapter of Epistle to the Ephesians, and when Freddy had read the last verse: “Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you,” he looked up and said softly, “Mother, that’s my prayer.”
“What do you mean, dear?” said his mother, for she thought he always prayed a little prayer she had taught him.
“O, nothing; only I just say to God, ‘Make me kind to others, tender-hearted, forgiving others, even as Thou, for Christ’s sake hast forgiven me.’”
Soon after this Freddy went to school, and he was very proud at the thought of being a school boy. Perhaps you will think he forgot his little prayer. No, he needed it now more than ever, for though boys at school meet with plenty of kindness from their school fellows, they are sure to find plenty of trials, too, as I am sure all school boys know.
We know it was God’s Holy Spirit who put these blessed words, not into his head only, but also into his heart, and enabled him to keep them there like a precious treasure.
But did the Lord answer Freddy’s prayer? You know he asked that he might be made kind to others. He had many beautiful books and toys, and, being a very careful little boy, he did not like to lend them at first, and would often refuse to do so, but soon he grew quite ready to lend, and would give up what he most prized, only saying: “Take care and don’t spoil it.”
The Lord made him forgiving, too, for even a little boy may have things to forgive, and we can never forgive the least thing of ourselves; our hearts cannot, by nature, bear the thought of it; only knowing how God, for Christ’s sake, can make us do it.
May you, too, learn to take the sweet words of the Bible for your own, and to come to God in the name of the Lord Jesus, and just tell Him what you really want. Many things seem too little for us to think of, because we are so small ourselves, but God is so great and so full of love that He forgets nothing, and thinks even of you, and of all you need. He loved you and thought so much of you that He gave His dearly beloved Son to take the punishment of your sins on the cross and die for you, that you might be saved, both now, and for eternity, if you take Him as your Saviour. And He will make you kind, tender-hearted and forgiving if you ask Him to.
ML 03/26/1916