In the military hospital in Cairo, Egypt, a Christian lady who was visiting the patients, came to the bedside of a young Scotch soldier. The doctor said he could not live until morning. When she stopped and asked him if there was anything she could do for him, he said, “Mother, mother.”
She bathed his fevered brow with cold water. Thanking her he said, “That reminds me of Mother.” Then she asked him if she could write a letter to his mother.
“No,” he replied, “the doctor has promised to do that. But, lady, will you sing to me?”
Softly she sang, “Shall we gather at the river?” The weak voices of the other wounded men joined in the chorus,
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
The lady remarked, “When all God’s children are gathered home, there will be songs of praise and thanksgiving. I am going to be there. Will you?”
A smile came over the face of the young Highlander as he said, “Yes, I will be there because of what Jesus Christ has done for me. I, too, will sing His praise.”
ML-11/25/1979