A mother had to take a long voyage by sea and land with her little girl. It was not without anxiety that she embarked one evening on board the vessel on which she was to spend many days, for she was not used to sea-voyages.
The child had hardly lain down when she fell off to sleep, as easily as if she were at home, but it was not so with her mother. The latter, although a Christian, and sure that she was under God’s care, could not shake off a feeling of anxiety.
How far it seemed from her home! Her thoughts went continually to the great depth of the sea by which she was surrounded, and the huge waves on all sides. Each moment took her farther from her dear ones, and bore her on to the unknown future.
These thoughts occupied her far into the night. Suddenly, the little girl awoke, and seeing that her mother was not sleeping, she said to her,
“I know my verse, Mother.”
The mother, glad of something to divert her from her sad thoughts, asked her to repeat it. It was this:
Although so short, this passage went straight to the heart of the mother. It seemed to be a message especially for her, at that particular moment,
“He careth for you.”
If He Who holds all created things in His hand, and makes them to obey His will—if the Almighty took care of her, why should she be fearful? Could she not trust Him? These thoughts calmed her, and soon she slept as peacefully as her child.
ML 10/25/1942