I don’t want to!” That was what little Charlie said when his mother called him to come into the house. He was playing in the yard with his cart, and he thought there was no need to come in just yet. But his mother was sure a storm was coming, and she wanted her little boy safe in the house.
As soon as his mother closed the kitchen door, little Charlie ran down the lane to get out of her way. At the end of the walk there was a little bridge which crossed a stream and led out into an open field. Beyond the field there was a most interesting woodland, and here Charlie ran to hide. Soon his mother noticed that Charlie had not obeyed, so she sent Bertha out to look for him; but while Bertha was looking around the garden, Charlie was wandering farther and farther into the woods.
Presently there was a bright flash of lightning and then a roar of thunder Charlie was frightened. It began to rain and soon the little fellow was soaked to the skin.
What a sight he was! He fell in the mud, the branches tore his clothes, and before very long he was wishing he hadn’t said, “I don’t want to!” Now he would gladly have rushed into his dear mother’s arms, but he couldn’t find his way home. Soon he slipped and fell again, this time cutting his hand on a stone. ‘This really frightened him as he saw the blood smeared all over his dirty wet clothes.
He could walk no farther, so he sat down and began to say, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” Somehow this didn’t seem the right thing to say, so he tried again, “Oh, please, God, help me!” Then he added, “And I’m sorry I was so naughty and disobedient to my mother.” He could not remember any more.
When he woke up, he found himself in his own little bed, with all his dirty wet and torn clothes taken off, and his own warm bed clothes on. Mother was leaning over him rubbing him.
Some days later, when they were having their family Bible reading, the story was about the prodigal son. Charlie spoke up and said, “I think I know what that boy felt like when he wanted to get back.”
“Yes, my boy, I guess you know something about it.”
“But, Mother, what made you so glad to get me back; for you I know was really such a naughty boy?”
“It was because I love you so much. And that was why the father was so glad to have his prodigal son back too.”
And that also is why God wants you and me to come to Him now, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
ML 05/14/1950