Mrs. Ashton’s husband had died and 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 live in, 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 soon she was able to move in.
One day a little later, she heard a lot of noise in the park. Looking out the window, she saw 12 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” (Psalm 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 they all came over and went in. Some sat on the floor and some on chairs. They were curious and amused, wondering what would happen next.
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 the next week.
Every week that winter, Mrs. Ashton had the boys over. Sometimes she had games for them to play, and sometimes she read to them, but she always told them how the Lord Jesus loved them.
After that winter, Mrs. Ashton moved to another part of the city to live with her daughter, and she lost track of “her boys.”
Seven years passed. One day a tall young man spoke to her in a shopping mall.
“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 you read Bible stories to,” he said, and he told her his name.
Mrs. Ashton remembered him then. He was one of the biggest troublemakers of the group.
“I’ve accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior,” 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.
Mrs. Ashton returned home with a happy heart, thanking the Lord for this encouragement, another proof of His love.
Messages of God’s Love 7/28/2024