There is a lot to tell you about John, for he spent a good deal of time with me, but I must not make my story too long.
John could neither hear nor speak, and as his parents were very poor, and had to work hard, they didn’t have the time to teach the boy anything at all.
He was eleven years old when I first happened to meet him one day on a country road, and since I had tried to help other deaf folks, I followed the boy home to see if his parents would let me try to help him too. They gladly agreed, and so John and I walked off hand in hand to my home. He was poorly clothed and in his bare feet. I shall never forget his look of surprise when he stepped into our house and stood on the carpet. He had never stood on a carpet before, and he shuffled his feet this way and that. Then he saw what looked like a window, and when he went over to look out into the yard, he fell down in a fright. It was a mirror, and not a window at all.
You have no idea what a hard time I had teaching John, for he seemed to know nothing at all. First I cut out the alphabet letters for him, and every time we saw a dog, I would pick out D-O-G and show them to him. After a long time, he seemed to get the idea, and then we tried another word. But I was not just interested in making John comfortable and in teaching him to read. I wanted John to know the Saviour’s love. I prayed very much for him, and for the wisdom needed to teach him about God. Little by little he learned to talk to me by making signs, which he had never done before. To my surprise, one day he asked me if I had made the sun and the moon! Then I knew that I must soon try to tell him about God.
Little by little, the dear boy learned that there was One above the sky who had made all these things, and that He had sent His own dear Son down into the world to die that sinners might go to heaven to be with Himself. I am sure the Lord heard my prayer, for it was surprising how quickly he laid hold of this truth. Never shall I forget the day when dear John really gave his heart to Jesus. I am sure the Lord Himself opened the feeble understanding. As we talked together, by signs and by those alphabet cards, I suddenly saw a happy light fill his face. He quickly picked out five letters and made the most wonderful word possible—J E S U S. He laid them slowly in order before me, and then with a beaming smile, he clapped his hands and pointed up. John was saved!
He lived with me for seven years after that, and never lost the sweetness and freshness of the love he had for JESUS!
Dear boys and girls, I suppose most of you can hear and talk and even read a Bible more easily than poor afflicted John. But have you given your heart to Jesus? If not, do it now.
“‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” Phil. 2:9, 10.
ML 05/23/1954