Betty was brought to the knowledge of the Lord in her old age, and from the time of her conversion never thought she could do enough for Him who loved her, and had washed her from her sins in His own blood. She went about doing good. She was ready to speak of her Lord and Master to all she met. She would nurse the sick, visit the afflicted; she would give to those poorer than herself portions of what kind, Christian friends bestowed on her. In short, she was always abounding in the work of the Lord.
But in the midst of this happy course, she caught a violent cold and rheumatism set in, and was confined to her bed. There she lay, day after day, week after week, till the Lord took her home.
On her sickbed Betty was as happy as she had been in her active duties. She was much in prayer, repeated hymns and passages of Scripture about her blessed Lord to Whom she was going.
One day Betty was visited by a minister who had long known her. He was astonished to see his once active and useful old neighbor so happy in her bed, and he said, “I little expected, Betty, to see you so patient; if must be a very great trial to one of your active mind to lie here so long doing nothing?”
“Not at all, sir, not at all,” said Betty. “When I was well I used to hear the Lord Jesus say to me day by day, ‘Betty, go here; Betty, go there; Betty do this; do that,’ and I used to do it as well as I could, and now I hear Him say every day,
‘Betty lie still and cough.’”
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Sam. 15:22).
“I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11).