LITTLE Emma lived in a sea port town which was constantly filled with sailors from all parts of the world. One beautiful spring day, Emma went into her little garden and found one lovely rose in blossom. For some time she had watched the petals unfold day by day with longing eyes. She had counted on giving it to her teacher, whom she loved and respected very much for all the pains she took to instruct her. With a heart full of joy, she started for school, with the fresh and graceful flower in her hand. On her way she met several sailors who had left a ship just in port. One went this way, one another, but one of them stopped looking at her with longing eyes, and saying in an imploring tone, “Little girl, will you give me that lovely rose?” Not answering, Emma went slowly on her way. Could she give her precious flower to a stranger after having watched and waited for it so long in hopes of giving her teacher pleasure? After a few moments she turned back, and saw the man looking sadly at her. To which should she give it? The fight was hard, but short. With a sweet smile she put the flower into the sailor’s hand. In a trembling voice the sailor said, “I have not seen a rose for years, little girl and this reminds me of home and my dear old mother, whom I may never see again on earth. I hesitated to ask it, as you have only one. May God bless you for giving it to me!” Emma ran on to school, her heart full of joy, for who does not know the pleasure it gives to make others happy. “After all,” she said, “I shall soon have another rose for my teacher.”
The following Sunday Emma went with her parents to the meeting, and on her way, among others, she saw the sailor to whom she had given the rose. Her father invited them to come and hear the preaching from the Word of God. “Not now,” said one of them, “we have just arrived on shore, after being many years at sea. We want a little pleasure now.” They all moved off, but the one to whom Emma had given the rose. Then she said gently, “Come with us I beg of you.” “Well, if it gives you any pleasure, little Miss, I will go. You did not refuse me your rose and I will not refuse you.”
The Saviour-God, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, had ordered all. The servant of God spoke from those precious verses in Math. 11:28, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Speaking to those who were bowed under the weight of their sins, and feared the just judgment of God he pleaded with them to come to Christ, the Saviour of sinners. None could ever say to God that He had not loved them, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). Many other words followed, tenderly and lovingly the preacher pleaded with his hearers to come to the Saviour. Many hearts were touched, even our sailor wiped away his tears, and he was melted as he went out. He asked Emma’s father for his address. A few days later his ship left for sea. Two years passed, and no sign of life from the sailor. One day Emma received a letter. It was very badly written on a large sheet of paper. This is what the letter contained: “My dear young lady: Perhaps you have forgotten the sailor to whom you gave a rose two years ago. He has never forgotten it and now desires again to tell you how grateful he is. That rose reminded me of my dear mother, who had prayed constantly for my conversion, and when you asked me to go with you to the house of God, I consented, to please you, and out of love to my mother. The preaching was addressed to weary and heavy laden sinners. I was one of them, and God in His grace led me to accept that gracious invitation, and now I rejoice in that Saviour “who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). Lately, I have thought perhaps I shall never see my native land again, so I now write, what I would so much like to tell you with my lips, also your parents; knowing the joy it will give you.
May God bless you, and enable you to do much good for Him in the world. If I never see you again in this world, we shall meet in the Father’s house on high, Till then, Au revoir!”
Your grateful,
“Richard H.”
Dear children, you see how a little act of kindness was owned of God. The giving of a flower seemed such a trivial act, but what a blessed result followed, being the instrument in the hands of God in bringing a poor sailor to Christ. Do you remember that story in 2 Kings 5, of the little captive maid who told about the true God, and led Naaman captain of the host of Syria to go to be cured of his leprosy, and he went, and thus heard, and believed? There is a verse in Heb. 13:1616But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16), I am going to give you, and may God bless it to you all. “But to do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Tell others of Jesus, but you must know Him as your own Saviour before you can talk about Him from your heart, and then you can please God by “doing good” to any. around you. It may be some simple act, like the little girl you have read about. How happy you would be, if you have brothers and sisters, if you tried to help them in any way you could, as well as the dear parents God has given you. Just do it all for Jesus, who first loved you.
ML 09/05/1909