Little Joe, Part 5.
It was a cold, frosty day; the sun was shining in all its splendor in the bright blue sky; the ground was covered with a carpet of glistening snow, and although the thermometer registered 30 degrees below zero, Joe Barnes felt it would be a delightful day for a walk, when his father told him to set off in good time for the Post Office. He made no murmur at the prospect of a sixteen-mile walk. In due time the Post Office was reached. It was kept in a funny little French house, but Joe had no eye for curious scenes around him that day, for was there not a parcel awaiting him? that source of delight to all children, be they rich or poor, but doubly so to one, to whom it was a new and untried luxury. Joe hurried home with eager feet, and a mind filled with wonder as to what could be within the precious parcel.
But when he reached the door of the little hut, a fresh surprise awaited him. His sister met him at the door with the tidings that a new little sister had arrived in his absence. A sister and a parcel in one day! Joe’s cup was overflowing with happiness. Do you think that little infant was unwelcome, because food and clothes and money were scanty? Ah! no. God has implanted a love in every mother’s heart, which nothing can quench. Did you ever thank God for His great goodness in giving you a mother to love you, as none other on earth can?
But we must go back to the parcel. When Joe had had his tea and all the little ones were in bed, he opened the packet. Out of it tumbled seven little white cornucopias, each ornamented with tiny pictures, and oh, joy! each filled with candy. But the most wonderful part was that each parcel bore one of the children’s names. “Who could have sent them?” exclaimed both father and mother; but Joe answered without a moment’s hesitation, “I know, it was Miss Brown, no one else ever asked me the children’s names,”
And do you know how those poor people showed their gratitude for the little gift? They promptly called the baby after the name of the giver. It was a very small gift, but it was love that sent it, and it called forth a feeling of thankfulness.
But God in His great love has given an unspeakable Gift for you and for me, even His own dear Son, to die on the cross, to bear the punishment of our sins. Do we feel grateful? do we ever thank Him for His love and for His Gift? Or have you not accepted it? Do you even doubt its being for you? When Joe saw his name on the parcel, he had no doubt it was for him, and when you see your name in God’s Word, as being the one Christ died for, will you not believe it? But you say, “I never saw my name there.” My dear little friend, are you willing to take this name “Sinner?” If you are, the invitation is for you, the salvation is for you; for God’s word says, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” But the small ones who love candy will want to know how the little children who “never had a present,” enjoyed this their first. Well, I wish you could have seen their delight; could have seen how each child took the candies out and examined them one by one, and how each had to taste one of the others, and how the nicest in each parcel was picked out for mother. It would have done your heart good, and you would have truly believed that, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
ML 06/03/1906