A Christian mother, a widow, had a boy named Robert. One Lord’s day as he was about to leave for Sunday school, she put a new Bible into his hand and gave him a goodbye kiss with her blessing.
Robert started out very happy, but on his way to Sunday school he met some of his playmates who were going for a boat ride, and they invited him to join them. He hesitated; his conscience telling him that he should not yield to the tempter, but his desire for pleasure was strong, and soon gained the mastery.
He hid the Bible his mother had given him, under a bridge and joined his gleeful companions without a thought of her, or of God, whom he was offending. Very shortly afterward however, the sad news that the little sailing boat had capsized, and all the boys drowned, reached the parents, and we can only imagine their distress!
And now in a corner of a certain cemetery, we can see two graves—the smaller one shaded with a weeping willow, had been kept by the broken hearted Christian mother until she too had to be laid by the side of her disobedient son, according to her last request.
Dear children, who have godly parents, give your heart to Jesus. He alone can help you to resist temptation, so that a dear mother who is praying for you may not be grieved by your disobedience.
ML 09/14/1941