Hsiu Hsi or New Happiness

IN CHINA New Year came in February. People got up early in the morning, they set off fire crackers and rockets and the sky would be filled with bright lights.
Then on each front door they would put a new paper door god, and the old one would be taken down and burned. The people believed the new one would drive away the evil spirits and bring "new happiness" to everyone in the house.
Two little Chinese girls, Ling Te and May Li, had been away attending the mission school but had come home for the big holiday. They told their parents that the evil spirits would not come and harm them, and that there was only one great God who did not hate them but loved them.
The father, however, did not listen to the girls and instead he threw some money into the fire to please the evil spirits. By this he believed that these spirits would only tell good stories about his family in the spirit world. After this he went out visiting his friends.
While he was away a missionary lady came to visit and found the old grandmother at home. They greeted each other and each wished the other "Hsiu hsi" or "new happiness."
It was here that the missionary told Grandmother about the new happiness that comes to those who believe in Jesus and follow Him. She told of how the Lord Jesus loved her, that He came into this world to put away sin, so that those who trust in Him have all their sins forgiven.
Grandmother listened attentively for she liked what the missionary said. She had had lots of sorrows in her life, and her friend told her of how the Lord Jesus "satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness."
Grandmother asked the missionary to come back again, and this she did many times. Finally, the old lady opened her heart and received the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. She "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven." 1 Thess. 1:9,109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10).
Before the next New Year came around everyone in Ling Te's and May Li's home had turned to the Lord and became followers of the Lord Jesus. Even their father threw away his idols, saying, "These are foolish gods. We now know the true God, and His Son Jesus has saved us from our sins and made us happy."
When the next New Year came around what a happy home that was for they all had found Jesus and had that "new happiness" which will go on forever.
Messages of the Love of God 4/6/1975