A FEW years ago lived a little girl named Florence M. She was the child of Christian parents, and at the time’ of our story, she was eleven years old. Her father was one of the highest officers in the army, so that Florence enjoyed all the luxury that a child could desire. Put, in spite of that, she was not really happy, for she did not know God as her Father, and the precious name of Jesus had no charm for her heart. On the contrary, Florence could not even bear to be spoken to about Him, and showed clearly the truth of this word, “the carnal mind (even in a child) is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7).
One morning when she was in the school-room, her governess asked her to take her Bible, and to read aloud, as usual, the chapter for the day. Some previous annoyance had perhaps gone against the child’s strong will, and excited her naturally quick temper, for seizing roughly the holy book, and uttering these dreadful words: “I am tired of this stupid, tiresome book, I hate it!” she threw it violently on the floor and kicked it.
Her governess was horrified at the sight of this impious act, and left the room immediately to go and inform Mrs. M. of what had happened.
Equally frightened, and far more deeply grieved, than could be one who was not so closely connected with the child, Mrs. M. remained for an instant, crushed with the thought that her beloved Master and Lord had been insulted, and His holy word dishonored, and that by her own child so dearly loved and so carefully brought up.
Mrs. M. cherished Florence, but she loved her Lord and His glory far more. She severely commanded her daughter to follow her to her room.
There, the poor sorrowing mother sought to show Florence, in a few short and solemn words the wickedness of her action, the greatness of her sin, adding she was convinced that God in righteousness would not allow such contempt of His holy word to remain unpunished.
But at the same time the mother said this would not exempt her from her responsibility toward God, and her painful duty toward her child, and taking her whip, she severely chastised Florence.
After this, she knelt down with her little girl, and with a broken heart she confessed to the Lord the sin in all its hateful aspect, acknowledging the right the Lord had to act toward her child as He saw fit, crying to Him with tears, that her soul might be saved, and that her sins might be forgiven for Christ’s sake.
From that sad and memorable day, a great change could be seen in Florence. She became more submissive, and seemed much impressed with the past events, so that her mother and others hoped that God, by His Spirit, had begun to show the little girl that she was, before God, a lost sinner, and that she needed the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.
A short time afterwards, Mrs. M. and Florence were looking at some fireworks. They were standing near to the place when they were fired, when an accident happened. A few of the pieces caught fire, and an explosion followed, and large pieces of burning wood were thrown in all directions. A great confusion followed among the spectators, and in the darkness, it was some time before they noticed that Florence was missing.
She was found, after a while, near a hedge, against which she had been violently thrown by the force of the explosion.
Her mother stooped down to her in great anxiety and asked her tenderly, “Are you much hurt, darling?”
With a voice so calm that Mrs. M. was greatly surprised, Florence answered, “Yes, dear mother, my foot is very badly hurt I think,” and with a groan, she added, her eyes, fixed upon her mother, “Mother, it is the foot with which I dared to kick the holy word of God.”
The poor child bore with great patience and courage the painful conveyance to her home, and afterwards the surgical examination. All the skill of the physicians was powerless to save her foot; it had been so fearfully crushed and burned, it had to be amputated Florence could not endure the effects of the operation. She slowly fell into a decline, but gave abundant proofs that the instant prayer of her mother had been granted. She now rejoiced in the certainty that, not only the flagrant sin she had committed, but that all her sins, had been washed in the blood of Christ.
In His rich mercy and in His great love, God had freely forgiven her, but she suffered, in her body, the chastisement of her sin, in order that she and those around her might learn that God is a jealous God, and that He cannot allow His word to be deliberately insulted.
During her last days on the earth, Florence gave proof of real humility and repentance. She bore without a complaint the most acute sufferings, as being but a small share of what she deserved. The Bible also, formerly so disliked, she had learned to love, and valued it highly.
In this way, calm and peaceful, Florence M. fell asleep in the Lord to be forever with Him who had cleansed her from all unrighteousness.
Dear children, this sad, but true story has a great lesson in it for us. May God cause it to sink deeply in each one of your hearts! May you learn to reverence, honor, and love this holy word of God. Remember, we are told that God has magnified His word above all His name, (Ps. 138:2) and also, “He that is of God heareth God’s words.” John 8:4747He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. (John 8:47).
ML 04/21/1912