Doris was twelve years old when she was sent by her pants to a boarding school. She was a Christian, having come to the Lord Jesus and trusted Him as her own Saviour, and she knew that He would be with her and watch over her while she was away from home.
Before leaving home Doris’s mother told. her to read at least a few verses of, God’s Word every day. Her teacher was very pleased for her to do so, and sometimes when it was time for lights to be put out at night, she would be allowed a little longer to finish her Scripture portion, and be left to put the light out herself.
So the first term passed, and Doris went home for the holidays. But what happened the next term was a great lesson to her and she has never forgotten it.
She was to sleep in a different bedroom with three other girls. Here was the test, and Doris meant to stand up for her Lord, and keep true to Him, but alas, what can we do in our own strength? Nothing at all, only fail and fall, and this Doris had to learn.
At first she read and prayed as she had always done, and the other girls would often join in the reading. But there came a night when they all had such fun before preparing for bed and then there was a rush and a scramble to be in time for the light to be put out, and Doris had no time to read.
So the days slipped by, and her prayers were hurried and the little Bible lay unopened. Doris was growing careless; she was wandering away from her Lord, and it wasn’t long before it was noticed in many ways.
One day the girls had been playing tennis, and on their return they were told to tidy themselves for tea. Doris and her friend ran upstairs to their bedroom threw down their rackets, took off the tennis shoes, and instead of preparing for tea, they lay on their beds chatting. Suddenly the gong rang. They quick brushed their hair, put on their shoes and flew downstairs to tea, leaving their room in a terrible muddle.
Study hour came next, and then Doris was called to her room, where she saw the head-mistress standing. She took Doris quietly to one side and laying her hand on her shoulder, she spoke to her about the way she had been behaving for the past few weeks.
To Doris’s astonishment she said, pointing to her little Bible which lay nearby “It is a long time since you read the little book.” Doris hung her head, for her conscience smote her; but how could her teacher have known?
Then drawing her closer to her, the mistress went on to tell her how she had, watched her day by day growing more and more careless, and she had felt sure that where she had failed was in no reading daily that which should be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path—the precious Word of God.
Oh! how those young feet had wandered! But there was One Who had been watching His wayward sheep, and He was ready to receive her back to Himself One Who had never changed and Whose love was still the same.
That night Doris knelt by her bedside and confessed it all to that loving Saviour, and could rejoice to know He had forgiven her.
Now should there be any of my young readers who were once bright and happy in the love of Jesus, and have, like Doris, grown cold, may you too get down on your knees, and confess it all, as she did, and get new strength and power to walk as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
ML 04/23/1939