JACK was a little fair haired, blue eyed boy of six years old. He was an orphan, and his home was with a good, kind auntie, who loved him•. very dearly. Money, however, was not very plentiful in that little home. Auntie Al. had to support herself and her little nephew by doing fancy work, and often she worked all day and late on in the evening, to earn enough to buy what was necessary. But just at this time, when spring was, coming on, and not only all the children round, but even the birds and flowers, seemed to be putting on fresh, bright clothing, Jack began to look at his Sunday suit, and he noticed that it was very old and very shabby, so of course he went to Auntie Al. as you would go to your mother in such a case, and he said, “Auntie, am I not to have a new suit soon?”
Auntie looked a little troubled, but she said, “Yes, dear, as soon as possible you shall. It cannot be for next Sunday though.”
Well, Sunday came, and Jack got ready for Sunday-school. His face and hands were nicely washed, and his boots blacked, but, oh! when the spring sunshine fell on the little suit, how faded and shabby it looked, and how the patches and darns showed up.
“Never mind, Jack,” said Auntie cheerfully, “your overcoat you know is good, and it will cover up the suit. You need not take it off,” but Jack still looked grave.
“I wore it last Sunday,” he said, “and I was so very hot.”
“Ah, well, think of next Sunday then I promise you, I will have a nice sailor suit all ready for you.” Jack looked up, through rather tearful eyes into his Aunt’s face, “Will it have braid and brass buttons?” he asked, and as she kissed him good bye, she answered, “Yes, dear, if you like.”
Now, it is easier to make a promise sometimes than it is to keep one, and so Jack’s Aunt found that week. Work came pouring in, day by day, and no one was willing to wait for it. She worked every minute of the day, and far into the night, but there seemed no chance of there being time to make a little suit that week.
“I must go to the store and buy one readymade,” she thought, “for I cannot break my promise to my little lad,” but she dreaded the extra expense. Money was scarce you know. And what do you think Auntie did then? I wonder whether you would have done the same? Why she knelt down, and told her kind loving Father, in heaven, the whole story,—that Jack’s clothes were too shabby to go to Sunday-school, and she had promised him new ones that very week, and that she had neither time to make them, nor money to buy them. And when she rose from her knees, and went back to work, her heart felt quite light, for she had many times before taken her troubles to the Lord, and He had always been her help and comfort.
There is a verse in the Bible which says, “Ask, and ye shall receive,” and another, “If ye shall ask anything in My name I will do it.” And these verses really mean what they say, not something quite different. Jack’s Aunt knew this, and having laid her trouble before the Lord, she quietly waited.
When Saturday came, the little boy began to ask about his clothes again, and the answer he got was, “I have not got them yet, but I have asked the Lord to provide for you, and I do not think He will forget you.” Bedtime came, and no clothes yet, but before the little man was asleep, there came a knock at the door—just a parcel, left by a stranger, and when it was brought in, there was Jack’s name on it, and inside—are you surprised?—a little blue sailor suit, with braid and brass buttons. Do you ask where it came from? Well, a young friend, in a distant town, had had it laid on her heart to make it, and an opportunity had come that very day to send it. Was it all chance? No, indeed, my dear little friend, it was the love and care of our gracious Lord, who not only feeds the birds, and beasts, and creeping things; not only causes the trees and flowers to grow, but loves and cares for little children, and knows all their wants, even before they ask Him. For do you know that little suit had been made and ready for Jack two weeks before he got it.
Messages of God’s Love 9/20/1908