It was very hot, and I was very I far from home. No wonder it was hot, for I was on the island of Trinidad, just ten degrees north of the equator.
At last I found a shady spot under a tree, and sat down to write a letter home. I had no sooner put down a few words when I heard a strange “squawk” from above my head. The squawker wasn’t hard to find, for there perched on a branch was a beautiful macaw. Unless you have seen a macaw, you can’t imagine what a beautiful bird this fine fellow is. His beautiful featrs are red, orange, green and gold. But when he opens his mouth to sing, all he can say is “squawk.”
All at once I thought of another little fellow back home called the wren. He doesn’t have as beautiful feathers, but when he opens his little beak a wonderful thrill of song warbles through the air. Then as soon as he catches his breath, he sings again, and again.
What a strange story, you say, for a Sunday school paper! But these two birds make me think of people I have met. Some of them wear fine clothes, they drive beautiful cars and live in wonderful homes. They go regularly to a place of worship and all, their neighbors say, “What fine people the Welshes are!” But let me ask one of them a question.
“Mr. Welsh, are you saved? Do you know the Lord as your Saviour?” The poor man has no answer: he cannot sing from his heart the glorious songs of heaven, because he is not saved.
Now we see a little boy coming out of Sunday school. His clothes are not as nice as Mr. Welsh’s, and he turns toward the poorest part of the city where he lives. Let’s stop him and ask him the same question.
“Freddie, are you saved? Do you know the Lord as your Saviour?” With a very happy smile Freddie answers, “Yes, sir, I was saved two months ago. Jesus is my very own Saviour.”
“That’s good, Freddie, and tell me now, what do you like to sing about?”
“I like to sing about Jesus, and I think my favorite hymn is, ‘Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.’”
Now I want to ask you, dear boy or girl, “Are you saved?”
The Bible tells us the very song that we shall sing together in heaven, and I do hope that you will be able to join in singing it. If you turn to Revelation 5, verse 9, you will read that song.
“Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
ML 05/30/1954