THE SUN shone brightly on a little group seated outside a cottage door. There was Ann, a widow, and her children, Mary Ann eleven, and little Henry just four.
When Father died, poor Ann had to work hard to provide for her little family, but sickness had overtaken her, and now her scanty savings were gone. Her last penny had been spent for bread and they were down to the last slice. Poor Ann wept bitterly as she cut it in two and gave half to Henry and half to Mary Ann.
"Why are you crying so, Mother?" asked Mary Ann, as she put her arms lovingly around her mother's neck.
"Because I don't know what I shall give you tomorrow."
"Oh, Mother, God will take care of that! Don't you trust in Him now? You always used to!" But poor Ann could not seem to rise above her sorrow.
"Mother," continued Mary Ann, "God can send us something to eat before tomorrow. Only today our teacher told us of His kindness and of the many different ways He helps us. He said we should never despair, and then he opened his Bible at the place where the people murmured against God in the desert and thought they would starve, and did not believe that God would make bread for them. Mother, shall I read you that story?"
Mary Ann ran into the house to get her Bible and sat down to read.
"Oh God doesn't work miracles anymore," said the mother.
"But why not, Mother? Isn't He just as mighty now as He used to be?"
Mary Ann sat down at her mother's feet and when she began to read tears rolled down Ann's cheek as she listened to the wonderful story of how the Lord cared for His murmuring people. Gradually her sorrow grew less bitter, and she felt as if a weight had been taken from her heart.
It was indeed a sweet picture, the mother with her children seeking the Lord.
Just at that moment a young man coming down a path out of the woods stood still with speechless delight. He gazed for a moment at the group and then took a small black book and pencil and began to sketch. Not one of the small family had noticed him. Still and motionless they sat there listening intently while Mary read. The young artist worked on without disturbance until Mary came to the end of the chapter. Then looking at her mother she said, "Cannot God send us something to eat?"
"Yes, my child," replied Ann, "for with God all things are possible." And she gently kissed her little girl.
But this interruption did not suit the painter, who had just been sketching the figure of the young child reading the Bible. Hastily he ran to her and took hold of her arm saying, "Oh please, just remain quiet for another moment." The three were startled, not understanding what he wanted. Perceiving their astonishment, he took a large coin out of his purse and said, "I am an artist, and should very much like to have your picture in my book; but just as you were sitting before. I give you this coin and I'll add another if you would remain quiet for an hour. Then I shall have finished my sketch."
The poor family stared at him and tears of joy filled Ann's eyes. Had not God sent bread as it were from heaven? And on Mary's beaming face the same thought might have been read. "Mother, Mother," she whispered, "is not God good?"
And then she allowed the painter to set her again on the old trunk at her mother's feet where she again took the Bible and put it on her lap.
"Read as you did before," said the young man; and Mary opening her Bible to Psalm 108, read: "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; because His mercy endureth forever."
Before the hour had passed the painter had completed his picture which he showed to them. At the same time he put down the second piece of money.
They now had enough to buy food for more than two weeks and by that time Ann would be strong again and able to work. Oh how she prayed and thanked God! Thus God showed His care for the widow and the fatherless. Their faith was strengthened, and their needs supplied.
May your trust, dear reader, be as simple as was Mary Ann's, for "Israel's God is our's."
Dear unsaved friend, what a loss it would be if you were to miss the acquaintance and friendship of such a God for time and for eternity!
Messages of the Love of God 9/7/1975