Thousands of children were assembling in a great hall one Surday afternoon, where there was to be a children’s meeting. Outside the door stood a boy whose ragged clothes and bare feet made him feel that there was no place for him among the rows of neatly dressed children that he could get a glimpse of through the doorway. He longed to go in, for it looked so comfortable inside, and he wanted to find out what all those children were going there for. A lady, when passing in, noticed his eager little face, and asked him if he would like to go to the meeting. He said he would, but that he wasn’t fit.
“Oh, never mind your clothes,” said the lady, “come with me, and I will find you a seat.”
She took him in, and placed him in a corner where he would be able to see the speaker, and yet could scarcely be seen himself. He was full of curiosity, wondering what was going to be done, when presently two gentlemen came onto the platform at the end of the room, and then the business of the afternoon began. One of the gentlemen, coming forward, said, “Let us pray,” and then spoke some words the little fellow could not understand; but the child wondered why all bowed their heads and covered their faces. After a time the heads were raised, and the gentleman read some words from the Bible. After that, the other who had come in with him, sang a beautiful hymn about a sheep that had strayed away from its shepherd, and, as he listened to the hymn, this ragged boy could not help crying, though he could not have told any one why he cried.
Presently the speaker gave out the text for his address: “I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” And then he spoke to the children simply and earnestly about Jesus — of that great love of His that brought Him from His home in heaven, to suffer and die on earth for sinful creatures like ourselves — to give Himself for us, that we might be His own forever. He told them Jesus was like a loving shepherd, caring for and watching over His sheep and lambs, and going in search of those who had strayed away. He ended by asking which of the children were willing to be lambs of His fold, and to have Him for their Shepherd; he then waited for an answer.
One and another answered “I am” from all parts of the building. Then he asked all those who had answered to stand up, and amongst them the poor little ragged boy stood up. He had been too shy to answer but he did not mind standing up. The lady who had taken him in, saw him, and as soon as the service was over she went to him, and talked to him.
“So you wish to be one of Jesus’ little lambs?” she said.
“Yes,” he answered; “But I am not quite sure that I know the way.”
“You heard all the gentleman said about Jesus; did you believe it?”
“Yes,” said the child.
“Do you believe He loves you?” “Yes, I do.”
“Do you believe that He died to save you?”
“Yes,” answered the boy, after being silent a minute.
“Then you may believe that you are one of His little lambs now? Jesus will not cast you out.”
This lady was very kind to the poor boy; she found out where he lived, got him some regular work to do, took him to a class in the Sunday school, and helped him in many ways. Now he is living to serve Jesus, and trying to bring more lambs into His fold.
ML 05/31/1959