SUNDAY SCHOOL wasn’t for Mary White. It was all right for other kids, but she was too much of a tomboy with her blue jeans and toy guns. She was just twelve years old and the ring leader of a neighborhood gang of boys and girls-into all kinds of mischief.
Still the folks who went to Sunday school were kind to her and let her come into their homes at times. One day she and a friend came into the yard eating green apples from trees that grew wild on the hills. “If you like apple pie,” said the kind lady, “I’ll make you one if you and your friend will bring me a bag full.”
She gave Mary a paper sack and away the two went to the hills. Soon they were back with the bag full of green apples. For the next hour the Christian lady busied herself peeling the apples and making the dough. Soon the pie went into the oven and at last it was baked.
At the appointed time Mary and her friend arrived. How delicious that fresh apple pie tasted with lots of ice cream piled on top. Afterwards Mary had a warm feeling in her heart and in her tummy for the people who went to Sunday School.
Then one day a gospel tent was set up on a vacant lot in the neighborhood and a Sunday school bus went round bringing in loads of children to the meetings. Unlike the Sunday services the children didn’t have to dress up — they could come in their regular play clothes. This was more to Mary’s liking so one morning when the bus stopped she clambered aboard.
At the tent meeting it was all new to Mary, but she sat right up the front and listened with rapt attention as a young evangelist told Bible stories and showed pictures of the Pilgrim’s Progress. One picture above all left a lasting impression on Mary’s mind — the man with the big load on his back, and of how he finally got rid of it at the foot of the cross of the Lord Jesus.
Mary suddenly became conscious of a big load that was weighing her down — the heavy burden of her sins. As the days went by that load seemed to grow heavier, until one day she felt she couldn’t stand it any longer. Down the hill she ran, tears running down her face, to the home of her Christian friends.
“What’s the matter, Mary?” they asked her. Out came the story. Praise the Lord, Mary wanted to be saved. She wanted to get rid of that heavy burden of sin. Aunt Stella took her into Uncle Jim’s office and there she wept out her sorrow. In a most kind and gentle way they pointed her to the Saviour who loved her and whose blood cleanses from all sin. Down at the feet of Jesus Mary took Him as her Saviour and when she arose her heavy burden of sin was gone — and gone forever. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief.” 1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15). Mary’s tears were now tears of joy. What rejoicing there was in the house that day. But what can be compared to the joy in the presence of the angels in heaven over one sinner who repents!
Things were different for Mary from then on, “for old things had passed away” and “all things had become new.” She gave up her old sinful habits and worldly companions. But living wasn’t easy for her father was an enemy of the gospel. Still she went on faithfully and found help and encouragement from her new Christian friends. On Sundays she would help round up the children. Then one day when she was old enough she bought a station wagon of her own and for years she filled that wagon with boys and girls and brought them to Sunday school.
Now Mary is a nurse in a large hospital and is living for the Lord. Recently her older sister accepted Christ and the blessing still goes on.
How about you, dear young rear? Are you troubled about your sins as Mary was? If you will come to the Saviour He will take that burden away and you will go on your way to heaven rejoicing.
ML-06/09/1974