“O thank you!” said little Marie shyly, as Mr. Nelson slipped a fifty-cent piece in her little hand before leaving. He was an old friend of the family and having paid them a visit he was now leaving for home. He loved children and was especially drawn to little Marie.
But Marie’s daddy hadn’t heard his little daughter’s “Thank you” and said, “What do you say for it, Marie?”
“Oh, she said ‘thank you',” exclaimed her old friend taking her side.
Then with a “Good-bye, God bless you!” he gave the little girl a kiss and soon her father and he were driving to the station.
Jim was a skilled machinist, a well-read and very intelligent man. He had a beautiful home, a loving wife and one little girl, Marie.
“Jim,” said his old friend as they drove along, “your little girl has learned her lesson well.”
“What lesson do you mean?”
“Why, to say ‘thank you’ when someone gives her a gift. And I was just wondering if you have learned to say ‘thank you’ for all that has been given to you.”
“I hope I have,” returned Jim, vaguely wondering what his friend might be aiming at.
“God gave His Son for you, Jim, and offers you everlasting life, heaven, and all else the grace of God brings with it. Have you ever once honestly thanked Him for that gift?
Jim was silent.
“Have you ever accepted Christ?” “No, I’m afraid not,” replied Jim slowly and shyly.
“Then, of course, you think no thanks due to Him from you, eh, Jim? And yet is not this ungrateful. If a friend offers you a gift and you do not want it, you ought at least to thank him for it. And since God, your Creator and best Friend, has offered you eternal life, peace, joy and heaven, then I think the least you can do is to say to Him, ‘O God, I thank Thee for Thy offer, but I do not care for Your gift; but while I decline it, I decline it with thanks.”
“Say no to God! Decline eternal life!” stammered Jim. “Why—no—how—What would become of me without Him?”
We do not give here all the particulars of Jim’s conversion; but he did learn to bow humbly before God in prayer and to say, “I thank Thee for giving Thy dear Son to die for Me, to be my Saviour"; and he found the joy and blessing of heartfelt praise.
ML-02/04/1979