In a village in one of the mining districts a kindly Christian lady was in the habit of visiting an old man who was ill and alone. He had the reputation of being a “surly, swearing old fellow,” and few of the neighbors went near him. Though the good woman received no thanks for her kindness, she continued to try to help the old man, and always mentioned him in her evening prayers. Her little boy also became greatly interested in the “bad man,” as he called him.
One night after visiting the old man, who had thrown back her kind words with curses and much abuse, the mother returned home quite discouraged. Her little boy noticed that she did not pray for the “bad man,” that night.
“Have you given him up, Mother?” he asked.
“Yes, dear, I believe I have,” was her reply.
“Do you think God has given him up too?” questioned the little boy, after a moment’s thought.
This view of the matter so impressed the mother that she continued praying for the old man and visiting him. The time came when God answered her prayers, and the old man was converted. How glad was the mother that she had not given up, and how indebted she was to her little boy for the words so fitly spoken.
ML-04/24/1966