I was visiting the town of Ranville and was staying at the home of Richard Wilson. Mr. Wilson and his wife were both Christians, and they had one dear little girl named Bessie.
The first day of my visit, I sat and explained to Mr. Wilson the work that had brought me to Ranville, While talking, I made a mocking remark about the Lord Jesus. Richard said not a word, but solemnly motioned me to look toward little Bessie. She was looking at me with an expression of sorrow and surprise which I shall never forget. No one spoke. I had no interest in the Bible or in God, but never in my life had I felt so rebuked. All at once, dear little Bessie said, "I thought you loved Jesus! How could you speak of Him like that?" Then she burst into tears and ran to her room.
The next day as I was alone in my room, thinking of little Bessie's remark, the little one knocked at the door. Quietly she slipped over beside me and looked up with tender pity. With her little hand on my arm she said, "Won't you love my Jesus?" Then she was gone. Each day little Bessie came with the same question and then slipped away. At last I said, "Tell me how, Bessie."
In a moment she was on my knee and at once poured out the story of Jesus' love as only a child could tell it: His lowly birth, His loving miracles, His sufferings, death, and resurrection and the cleansing power of His blood to put away sins. Never, never shall I forget that story.
A few mornings later Richard Wilson knocked and came in. "Mr. Carey," he said, "Bessie seems terribly sick, can you come to her room at once?"
I went at once but there was nothing I could do. Soon the doctor arrived, but it was too late. The sweet eyes opened wide and she looked at me. "Dear Mr. Norman, won't you love my Jesus? Mother loves Him. Daddy loves Him. I am going to Him and want to tell Him that you love Him too."
"Bessie, little Bessie! Tell Him my heart and life are His forever, Jesus is my Saviour!"
In a few moments little Bessie had gone to be with Jesus.
Dear young reader, let me ask you Bessie's question. "Won't you love my Jesus?"
"I have loved you, saith the Lord,"
Messages of the Love of God 6/29/1952