Miguel was hungry. In fact he was often hungry, but then his mother was poor, and she did the best she could to keep him clothed and fed. Best of all, Miguel’s mother loved the Lord Jesus, and although they did not always have quite enough to eat, they always had the Lord Jesus to turn to, and they thanked Him for what He gave them. And they never forgot to thank Him for the best of all gifts, Himself. Don’t we sometimes feel thankful for the bright sunshine and all the good things that are ours, and yet give no thought to the Lord Jesus Christ — the Saviour — through whom all these blessings come to us?
Miguel had a strange job. Right near his home there was a big market place, and he used to go there every market day and empty the big garbage cans for the farmers who came to sell their fruits and vegetables. In this way he made a few cents; and then, too, he sometimes found some fruit or vegetables which had been thrown away but were still good enough to eat.
This particular morning Miguel was really hungry. As he went about his work one of the other boys met him and quietly told him how he could get a nice juicy orange. “Do you see that stern old lady over there with the big pile of oranges for sale? Let’s walk past her, and I’ll kick the pile and then you grab two or three that roll away and slip them in your pockets.”
The plan succeeded, and Miguel and his friend each had a fine orange. Then Miguel went about his work. When he came home that evening, his mother had their little supper ready. Miguel sat down, but he was rather quiet.
“Now, my boy, please thank God for our supper and we shall eat.”
Silence.
“Please, Miguel, thank God for our supper as you always do.”
Silence,—followed by a burst of tears. “Whatever is wrong, Miguel?”
“If I told you, you would spank me!” “No, I won’t. What’s wrong?”
Between his sobs, poor Miguel told his story of stealing to his mother. What should the mother do? Was it really very wrong that a hungry boy should steal an orange? God’s Word says it is very wrong to steal, and God saw just what Miguel had done. And God has seen everything that you and I have done today too. Right away, Miguel and his mother knelt down and told God all about what had happened, and Miguel confessed that sin with many tears.
“Now,” said his mother. “We must go right back and see if we can find the lady from whom you stole that orange.”
Poor Miguel. That was going to be hard to do. But back they went, and were soon standing before the stern face of the orange seller.
“Do you want to buy some oranges?” “No, but my boy has something to tell you.”
Miguel started bravely, “I’m very sorry... but...” Then he began to cry. But his mother wisely waited, and the orange lady waited too, for she had no idea what was wrong. “I’m sorry, but I stole an orange from you today, and I’m very sorry. I want to pay for it. I’m a Christian, and I want to please Jesus.”
The stern face of the, orange seller changed remarkably.
“But, my boy, that happens to me every day, and you were hungry. You should have asked me for it, but I suppose I would have said no! You say you are a Christian, but I think I am too. I go to church every Sunday and say my prayers. But you must have some different religion to make you come to me like this!”
Miguel turned to his mother and in a moment she had her Testament out of her bag and joyfully told the story that was so very dear to her. She told of the love of Jesus in coming down into this world to seek and to save that which was lost. I can’t tell you just whether that orange seller accepted Jesus or not, but I know she gave Miguel all the oranges he could carry home.
Do you know Miguel’s Saviour as your own? Are you trying to please your Saviour and to walk in the remembrance that His eye is watching you at all times?
ML 06/21/1953