Maggie’s favorite hymn was,
“Tell me the old, old story
Of Jesus, and His love.”
It was this hymn that brought light and joy to her heart the night she was converted, and she sang it over and over the most of the night. The last verse says,
“And if this simple message
Has now brought peace to you,
Make known the old, old story,
For others need it too.
Let everybody see it,
That Christ has made you free,
And if it sets them longing,
Say, ‘JESUS DIED FOR THEE.’”
The next morning, Maggie went across the fields to tell a neighbor of her newfound joy. She found her sitting in her door knitting.
“What brings you here so early, Maggie, dear? I hope you have good news with you,” said the old lady.
“The very best, Grandma,” said Maggie with a smile, as she seated herself on a stool by her side. “I was saved yesterday, and I could not rest till I had come and told you the old, old story too. It has made me so happy. Have you believed it yet, Grandma?”
The woman looked bewildered, and shook her head. She had been religious all her life; she went to church as often as she was able, but she was only “hoping to be saved,” and that chiefly by her own efforts, with “God’s help,” of course.
Maggie’s heart now filled with the love of Jesus, longed to see the dear woman saved, but the difficulty was, to get her to see the simplicity of the gospel.
“I’ll sing you my favorite hymn,’’ she said, and, seated by the woman’s side, she sang the verses of “The Old, Old Story” from first to last. As she finished, she saw the tears come down her face, and in the simplicity of her heart she said, “You have believed it too, Grandma, haven’t you?”
And such was indeed the case. The message that had won the young and tender heart of Maggie the previous day, had also entered into the heart of the aged woman and she was won for Christ.
ML 04/24/1938