Joey was a dear little boy at the age of three years, so full of life and merriment that it was sometimes a difficult matter to keep him quiet. On one occasion his mother intended going to some meetings in the country, some distance from where they lived. Calling her little boy to her the day before, she said,
“Joey, I am going to some meetings in the country tomorrow, and should like to take you with me, but I am afraid you could not sit still long enough.” With a pleading look in his mother’s face Joey replied,
“You just try me this once.”
The next day found him seated beside his mother in the train which was carrying them toward the town of C—, and when they arrived at the farm where the meetings were held, he did not forget that he must sit quite quietly, After the first meeting a kind old gentleman took him up in his arms saying,
“What, a good little boy you have been.” Joey was very gratified by this, and pulling his mother’s hand exclaimed,
“There, moder, didn’t I tell truff (truth)?”
At the close of the next meeting, as the people were about to separate, some one suggested singing the well-known verse,
“Here we suffer grief and pain
Here we meet to part again,
In heaven we part no more;
O that will be joyful,
Joyful, joyful, joyful,
O that will be joyful,
When we meet to part no more.”
These words evidently made a great impression on Joey’s mind, for the next day when playing in the garden, he ran into the house to his mother, saying,
“Moder, that man said,
‘In heaven we part no more.’”
“Yes,” said his mother, “and if you like I will sing you the verse.” He listened very attentively to the words and then asked,
“If I love Jesus, should I go to heaven if I were to die?”
“Yes, dear,” was the reply, “because Jesus loves you.”
“But, moder, does Jesus love me when I’m naughty?”
“Yes, Jesus always loves you, but He does not love naughty ways.” Satisfied with this the little fellow ran away to his play, leaving his mother to ponder his words.
How wonderful it will be when the Lord Jesus will take all those who have trusted in Him as their Saviour, Home to Himself in heaven, and they will never part again, but all will praise Him for all His love in giving Himself for them.
ML 09/03/1944