The gypsies had pitched their tents on the meadow close by the woods. Around one of them you night have seen four little children playing. Every few minutes they stopped their play and ran up to the top of the neighboring hill, to look for off in the direction of the city. Father was coming soon. He had been away for three days, and this was the promised day of his return.
Just at sunset, the four little watchers caught sight of him, and how they did crowd around! The big tall man stooped and lifted the youngest child into his arms.
But the next little one wanted to be loved too. “Come, sister,” said the little fellow, “You’ve been there long enough. It’s my turn now.”
The little girl only clasped her arms tighter around her father’s neck as she answered, “Yes, take me out of Father’s arms if you can.”
“I can’t,” he answered, “but there’s room for me in there, as well as you.”
Father understood. He stooped and the little brother sprang into his strong arms, which now encircled both his dear ones, and held them close.
Wouldn’t you like to be held close like that, close to the heart of the strong One who loves you? God wants to receive you close in His loving arms, and never let you go. There’s room for you, if you will come. There is a welcome for you, if you come in the name of the Lord Jesus. God Himself is ready to be a Father to you, and you shall be His sons and daughters. You have sinned, but He has a pardon for you. You may have known sorrow and loneliness and pain, that is but God’s purpose to draw you to Himself. Come as a poor sinner for whom Christ died, and trust in His finished work today.
ML 04/26/1953