Number 4. Arthur and his shoes.
ARTHUR was only three years old, and it is not very surprising if he did get his shoes soaked through and through, on that cold and wet March day, by being out lust a little while. But it, was rather a pity, for they were the only shoes he had.
Now, we often find that the wisdom of these little folks is not of that kind that knows how to take care of clothing, and so when one of his shoes, which he placed by the stove to be dried, became crisped and ruined, it is not probably very different from what might be expected. and what will happen as long as there are little darlings to make mistakes, who have to learn by experience.
He found out that fire would burn shoes, as well as dry them.
But it is rather an expensive way of learning, when one finds he has just one shoe to cover two needy feet, as a result. But this was Arthur’s fix.
What was to be done now? What would you have done? I suppose you would have done just what he did, that is, to have gone to your father and asked him for new ones.
But there was no money in the house, and his father had no way of getting any. So, still the question was, “What shall we do?”
But the time had come for little Arthur to learn the source of every good gift. So the father said to him, “You must ask the Lord for them.” At once taking the word of his father, the precious boy ran to his mother and knelt down at her knee. But she taken by surprise, scarcely knew what to do with the little one before her.
“Tell him what to say,” said the father. But the child, who had been accustomed, to ask what he wanted of his parents, at once put it in the simplest and most direct form:
“Please, Lord, give me a pair of shoes.”
Matt. 7:11Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1)1 Says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask Him.”
And the Lord answered this word of faith. In less than half an hour a little girl came in and left a small basket, containing half a dozen apples for the children. Upon taking out the apples, they found a small sum of money. But, supposing it was left there by mistake, one of the children took it to the friends who had sent the apples, only to find that the money had been put in on purpose. The apples were put on top, as an excuse for coming, and it was meant that they should find the money as a surprise. But having asked the Lord, it could not be a surprise that He had done this. The shoes were soon bought, and put on the feet of little Arthur. They were a constant appeal to that family to commit all their wants to the Lord.
And do you think He would give shoes to that little fellow, and keep back anything from you that you need? Is your need salvation? He freely saves, giving eternal life to those who believe in Christ, His Son. Would you reject any gift for the body, from Him? Do not reject the gift of Jesus Christ. Rest on what He has done for you as a sinner, and rejoice in Him. He that died for sinners wants you as His forever.
ML 07/29/1906