The Famine Orphan
Whenever the land of India comes into our minds, we cannot help but think of her teeming millions of men, women and children, living in the worst poverty. It seems that India never could sufficiently support and feed her vast population. Even now, at this very moment, when we in these favored lands live in such luxury and prosperity, along the roadsides and in the villages of faraway India, thousands of little children, and fathers and mothers too, are dying from famine.
This sad picture is the actual photograph of a little orphan girl named Laki Kala, who was rescued and placed in an orphanage in Gujaret, India. Poor Laki was found by the roadside, just as you see her. Her little arms and legs were like sticks, and her body was wasted by hunger so terribly as to give little hope of recovery. Her mother had died of starvation by the way. When Laki was picked up, she was so weak that she could not stand, but for many days she could only lie on her little cot. When she began to recover she wondered why all this was done for her.
When once she was strong enough, little Laki was sent to school. There she heard for the first time the story of Jesus, who came down from His home in heaven to seek and to save the lost. She had never heard His precious name until she had entered that orphanage. Now she heard it every day. How wonderful it will be to hear that Laki Kala was saved and a follower of Jesus.
Dear young friend, you have so many greater privileges and blessings, but are you saved? There will be multitudes of little children in heaven, from the ranks of the poor and forgotten—yet those for whom Christ died, who never enjoyed such comforts and plenty as you enjoy, but who believed the story of Jesus and His love and trusted in Him as their Saviour.
God is going to fill heaven with redeemed ones from every kindred and tongue and people and nation, to sing the song of glory and praise unto Him and His beloved Son. Will you not be among that number? The Saviour bids you come, now.
Around the throne of God in heaven
Will many children sing;
Children whose sins are all forgiven,
Will heavenly anthems bring,
Singing, “Glory, glory, glory, be to
God on high!
Because the Saviour shed His blood
To purge away their sin,
Now washed in that most precious flood,
Behold them white and clean!
On earth they sought the Saviour’s grace,
On earth they loved His name;
So then they’ll see His blessed face,
And praise before the Lamb,
Singing, “Glory, glory, glory be to
God on high!
ML 02/28/1965