A lady who had lost all her health in following the gaieties of the fashionable world, was reclining on her bed, longing for the society and pleasure that she once enjoyed. She told her nurse to fetch the box that held her jewels, so that she might amuse herself in recalling to her memory the festive seasons when she had worn them to the admiration of so many.
“Now, nurse,” said she, “would you not like to have some of these jewels?”
“No, ma’am, not at all; for I have jewels much finer.”
“How can that be, nurse? Mine are the finest jewels in the land. Where are yours? You never wear them.
The nurse held up her Bible, saying, “My jewels are in here.”
The lady, thinking that there were some hidden away in the book, said,
“Take them out and show them to me.” Why, ma’am, my jewels are so precious, I can only show you one at a time.” Then she opened her Bible and read,
She told her of the treasure that she had in heaven; how that, though poor, she had a loving Father, who provided for her, and the great happiness that she had in Him, and how she was patiently waiting for the Lord to come.
“Why, nurse, I never heard anything like that; how happy you must be to feel as you do! I wish I could do the same.”
The next day the lady said,
“Nurse, I should like to see another of your jewels; the one you showed me was beautiful.”
The nurse again opened her Bible, and read,
From the few words that followed, the lady’s heart was opened to feel that she was a sinner, that Christ Jesus was her Saviour; and she soon found rest, peace, joy, in believing and trusting Christ Jesus as her Saviour also.
ML 01/31/1943