THE following true story is one from which its readers may learn several lessons, and I hope, dear children, that as you read it you will see what they are. Then, when the story has been told we will take a few minutes to talk about these lessons.
A dear old Christian lady, 80 years of age, lived with her married daughter. tike other old people, she did not need as much sleep as you younger ones, neither did she sleep as soundly as you do. So the nights seemed long, and she often looked at the clock, wondering if it wouldn’t soon be morning.
Probably all of you children have been told not to play with matches, for your parents know how dangerous it is. Many houses have been burned down, and many people burned to death, because children played with matches.
Now, people as old as 80 are often more or less shaky, and it is dangerous for them to strike matches, especially in bed. So this lady’s daughter was kind and thoughtful enough to supply her mother with a flash-light, granting her the comfort it gave her to be able to look at the clock whenever she wished.
But one night the flash-light was out of order, and the old lady told her daughter it wouldn’t give any light. The daughter went to her bedroom to get her own flashlight, which was in good condition. Some duties there attracted her attention, and she busied herself with them, forgetting about the flash-light, till finally she went to bed without taking it to her mother.
Early in the morning she was frightened by hearing her mother call for help. She hurried in, and was terrified to see the bed-clothes in a blaze. Not having the flash-light, the dear old lady had struck a match on the side of the bed, setting fire to the bed-clothes. She called again and again, but the daughter did not hear at first, and so the fire got quite a start.
When the daughter reached her mother’s room, she too called for help, and her husband hurried in, and bravely smothered the fire, and all were safe again. Then they kneeled down and thanked the Lord for His deliverance—thanked Him for sparing the house and their lives, also the lives of their neighbors who lived in the other part of the house, which was a double one.
They thanked Him, too, for that far more wonderful deliverance from the lake of fire with its never-dying flame. They were safe from this eternal punishment, because they had believed God’s Word which says,—
Now, dear children, how many lessons. do you see in this story? First, let us speak of obedience. God’s Word says,
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Col. 3:2020Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20). And this means obey them immediately—just as soon as they speak—not whenever you happen to get ready.
Suppose the lady in this story, when she heard her mother calling, had said, “Wait a minute,” and suppose her husband, when he heard the call, had said, “Pretty soon.” I’m sure you all know that the dear old lady would have been burned, and perhaps the house and all the family.
So, when your parents speak, you should obey at once, whether there is any danger or not, because it is God’s command to you. And when they tell you not to do a thing, do not do it, whether there is any danger or not. You should obey your parents because God tells you to do so, not through fear, though you little know how much danger there is in disobeying, and how many terrible things have happened through disobedience.
Another very important lesson I’m sure you have seen is this,—Whenever we feel the Lord’s mercy and care over us, we should thank and praise Him. Many of you thank God every day for your food and clothing and daily mercies. But there are many special things taking place for which He loves to hear your thanks.
We have already spoken of the lady’s thoughtfulness in providing her mother with the flash-light. Always do what you can to make your parents happy and comfortable, and other people, too.
Perhaps you have seen several other lessons, but we will take time to speak of just one more. Our story shows that accidents happen very suddenly and unexpectedly, and it is a very sad thing not to be prepared for them. You know not what moment you may be called from this earth. After that there is no opportunity to turn to the Lord for salvation. You have heard God’s Word many times. Do you believe?
ML 10/19/1924