One day many years ago, Albert’s mother sent him to the store to buy some soap. Once he had the soap, the shopkeeper went to tear a leaf out of a large Bible which lay on the counter to wrap the soap in.
“What are you going to do?” Albert said. “Do you know that that is a Bible?”
“What of that?” answered the woman. “It will work very well to wrap up this piece of soap.”
“Really, ma’am,” replied the boy, “you should not tear up
a Bible.”
“Why, child,” said the woman, “I bought it on purpose to use as scrap paper.”
“Bought the Bible, on purpose to make scrap paper of it!” repeated Albert, astonished.
“Well, if you would like to pay what it cost me, you may have it.”
“Oh, thank you. I will run to my mother and ask her for the money.”
“Mother,” Albert called, as he entered their home, “please give me some money!”
“What for, dear?”
“To buy a Bible. The woman in the shop wanted to tear one up, and I told her she shouldn’t, so she said I may buy it from her.”
“My dear child, I cannot pay for it. I have no money.”
Albert burst into tears, and he returned to the shop. “Mother has no money to give me, but I beg you, do not tear up the Bible. My Sunday school teacher says it is God’s own Word.”
“Well, don’t cry, child. If you can bring me its weight in scrap paper, you may still have it.”
Albert ran to his mother with this news. She gave him all the old papers she had. After that, he went to the neighbors and collected all they could give him. Then he returned to the shop with all of the paper.
“Here is all the paper I can get, ma’am,” said Albert.
“Wait a minute, my boy, and I’ll weigh it.” The woman weighed the Bible and the paper. Albert watched anxiously. To his joy, the paper weighed more than the Bible.
“It’s mine!” he shouted. He picked up the Bible and went back home, calling out, “I’ve got it, mother! I’ve got the Bible!” He was happier than if he had found hidden treasure.
Do you know why he loved the Bible? It was because in it he had learned to know the love of the Lord Jesus, who said, “Suffer [let] the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:1414But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)). How wonderful it is to know that whether we are young or old, we are welcome to come to the One who loves us so much that He died to pay for our sins. He will never refuse to receive one person that comes to Him, for He promised, “Him that [comes] to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
Messages of God’s Love 10/19/2025