A LITTLE shepherd boy in Africa heard of Jesus, and of how He had been born a babe in Bethlehem’s manger. This boy told the sweet story to a little friend of his, who was also a little shepherd. The child was so surprised to hear about it, that he listened with great attention, and believed every word he heard. He longed to see the Babe of Bethlehem.
“Can I see Him?” he cried. “Tell me, oh tell me where He is!”
“At the station at Kuruman,” said his little friend.
“Have you seen Him?”
“No, I never saw Him, but I know He is there, for they sing to Him, and talk to Him.”
So the little shepherd boy made up his mind to go and see the Babe. It was a long journey, more than a hundred miles over hot plains, but he found his way, and arrived one Saturday evening. A kind Christian woman took him into her hut and gave him supper. Next morning he heard the chapel bell and followed the woman. The little shepherd boy looked around, hoping to see the glorious Babe, and as he looked, he saw a little fair child, with light hair, and blue eyes — such a child as he had never seen before, for all the people he knew were black.
It is the Babe of Bethlehem, he thought. After the service was over, he told the woman so. At first she could not understand him, and then she told him it was the missionary’s child, and she also told him who the Babe of Bethlehem really was, what He did, and where He is; of His love in dying upon the cross, that we who trust in Him, might live with Him in glory forever more.
The boy believed her words, and soon learned to love Jesus, though he could not see Him. He did not wish to leave the mission station, but stayed there, and learned to read his Bible, and he grew up to be a Christian man.
A beautiful place, He has gone to prepare,
For all who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children are gathering there,
For of such is the kingdom of heaven.
But thousands and thousands who wander and fall,
Never heard of that heavenly home;
I should like them to know that there’s room for them all,
And that Jesus invites them to come.
ML-12/29/1963