Mrs. Ashton’s husband had died. Now she had to sell her home in the country and find a place to live in the city. As she looked for an apartment to rent, she asked the Lord Jesus to help her find the right place.
She found a small apartment across the street from a park. She felt that this was the place the Lord had for her, and so she rented it.
One day after she had moved in, she was startled by a lot of noise in the park. Looking out the window she saw a dozen boys playing over there. She watched them for a while and could hear their rough talk and bad language. All of a sudden she thought, “Maybe it is for boys like these that the Lord gave me this apartment.” She remembered the calendar verse for that day: “Go in the strength of the Lord God.” Psalms 71:1616I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. (Psalm 71:16).
Although she was shy, Mrs. Ashton went over to the park and called to the boys, “Won’t you come over to my apartment to hear a Bible story?”
The boys stopped their noise and seemed too surprised to answer right away. Finally, one of the oldest boys smiled and said they would. So in they all came. Some sat on the floor and some on chairs. They were all curious and amused, wondering what would happen next.
Then she read the story of Joseph and told them about the Lord Jesus Christ and how His blood was shed for boys just like them. After she finished talking to them, she gave them cookies and juice and invited them to come again next week.
Every week, all winter, Mrs. Ashton had the boys over. Sometimes she had little games for them, and sometimes she read to them, but she always told them how the Lord Jesus loved them.
After that winter, Mrs. Ashton had to move to another part of the city to live with her daughter. She lost track of “her boys,” because she did not get to see them anymore.
Seven years passed. One day a tall young man spoke to her in a shopping plaza.
“Are you Mrs. Ashton?” he asked. “Yes, that is my name.”
“Don’t you know me?” he asked.
“You look familiar, but I can’t remember who you are,” she answered.
“I am one of the boys on the west side whom you read Bible stories to,” and he told her his name.
Then Mrs. Ashton remembered him as one of the biggest troublemakers of the group.
“I’ve accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour,” the young man told her. “I never forgot the things you told us during that winter. Five years ago I admitted that I was a sinner and was saved. Thank you so very much, Mrs. Ashton.” After talking a little longer, he said good-bye and went on his way.
Mrs. Ashton returned home with a happy heart thanking the Lord for this encouragement, another proof of His love.
ML-12/13/1987