OUR picture brings before us a scene in the far East—perhaps in India. The dress of the woman who sits upon the ground, the shrubbery seen through the open window, the strange cradle, with its little inmates, swinging from some support above, all speak to us of another clime, and of a land far removed from ours. But the same affection is seen in the mother’s heart, as she watches over her little ones, as is seen in the hearts of mothers in our own land, for God has placed it there. It may be in a land of heathen darkness, but still the mother loves her child.
This mother-love is sometimes shown in a very touching way; and this in the lower animals, as well as in man. I heard of a cat that sprang through the flames of a burning building with one of her kittens in her mouth; a second and a third time she made her way through the flames, each time returning with one of her loved little ones. Although she was badly scorched and burned, she did not rest until all her kittens were rescued from the burning stable. The owner of this faithful cat was so delighted with her conduct on this occasion that she laid money could not buy her.
But we know there is a love greater than even a mother’s love —a love which the dark waters of death could not quench. Do you know this love, my dear reader? Has the love of Jesus melted your heart? You were far from Him; has He drawn you to Himself? You were out in the darkness; has He brought you into the light? You were under the power of Satan; have you been turned to God? Are your sins forgiven, and have you “an inheritance” among them which are sanctified? Oh, then praise God with a glad heart that you have been brought under the power of this wonderful love.
“Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who bath delivered us from the power of darkness, and bath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
ML 03/15/1903