It was just too tempting! Jean couldn't resist listening to the girls singing inside the little building. As their happy voices blended in a song of their Savior, she stood just outside the closed door eagerly listening. Her eyes filled with tears. Suddenly the door opened, and about a dozen girls streamed out.
"Oh, Jean!" they cried in surprise. "You here?"
Instantly the tears were brushed away and the girl flung herself off, mortified and thoroughly ashamed of herself at having been caught eavesdropping.
"Just a minute, Jean," said a soft voice at her elbow. "I am going your way, and so we can walk home together."
"It's no use talking to me, Mary," answered Jean with an impatient shrug of her shoulders, "It's only a waste of time. Just leave me alone!"
But it was useless to try to shake the other girl off, so with another impatient toss of her head, Jean allowed Mary to walk beside her until they were out of sight of the others.
"Why didn't you come in?" asked Mary. Then stopping in the street, she put her arms around her friend. "Oh, Jean, we have all been praying for you tonight and asking God to save you. Do let Him!"
"It's no use, Mary; I'm much too bad, so leave me alone. Goodnight-and don't bother to pray for me!"
By this time they had reached Jean's home and, without another word, she rushed inside. Mary went on her way with a heavy heart.
Within, Father, Mother and the boys were seated at the table.
"I don't want anything to eat," said Jean, "so don't keep anything for me, Mother."
"In one of your tantrums again, I suppose," said the oldest of the boys, looking up for a moment from his plate.
Jean ignored this remark and ran upstairs. Her heart was very heavy. No wonder, for she had begun to realize her own sinfulness, and beneath the seeming indifference and open defiance was a great longing to be what she knew those girls were. They were such happy Christians!
She wanted to be alone, and knew this would be impossible soon, for there would be cries for "Jeanie" to do a dozen different things.
Quickly she slipped back down the stairs and out into an old shed in the yard. Safely out of everyone's sight she flung herself on her knees and wept as though her heart would break.
"O Lord Jesus, please forgive me and make me Yours" she whispered again and again.
And don't you think the Lord heard that prayer? Of course He did! There in that tumble-down shed He spoke peace to her soul, and she knew she was saved.
An hour later Jean was again with her friend Mary, and both were rejoicing over the fact that God had heard the many prayers for this willful, wayward girl and had brought her that night safely into His family.
Cannot He do the same for you? You know He can, and even now as you read this He is speaking to your heart. The Lord Jesus is telling you that He died for you and that He is waiting to take you as you are. Do not disappoint Him.