Harry Lester watched the two; he knew, and so did Charlie, that Bobbie was no coward. Charlie limped away towards the school, laughing scornfully, and declaring that Bobbie was afraid to touch him. Harry said to himself, feeling a little ashamed of his own readiness for a hasty blow, and an angry word when he was “put out,”
“I suppose the little chap is thinking of the superintendent’s address last Sunday about the Prince of Peace, and how He wants His little flock to be patient and gentle and forgiving. Anyway, I do think that Whiteman deserves to be paid back in some way.”
Bobbie was of the same opinion: he was only a little child, but he knew that his Master would have him “pay back” his enemies by doing good to them. And his tiny feet had already begun to follow Jesus; for he knew that He had died for him, and he wanted to please his Saviour. The dear father whom God had taken, and whom Bobbie had never forgotten, had laid his hand upon the curly head in his dying hour, and prayed that his little son might meet him in heaven, and might be kept faithful to the Lord Jesus. His prayers were being answered.
“I must do all I can to help Whiteman,” thought Bobbie, rather unwillingly, He did not like Whiteman—nobody did—but when his little heart thought; “I must be good to him for Jesus’ sake,” things looked much sweeter and brighter.
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:4444But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44),
ML-09/15/1935