"I Know That 'Whosoever' Means Me."

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It was a cold stormy day when I found my way to the house of a poor old woman who had been on her bed for 18 years, unable to move any part of her body, but her head. She lived 8 miles from any town, and because she was so bad, she was very seldom visited by any one. I was told all about her before I went, but I was anxious to tell her about Jesus dying for her, so I went to her house. She lived in a log house some distance from the road. All the path I could see leading to it, was what was made in the deep snow by two little pair of feet. The snow was very deep around the door and everything looked as though nobody cared for the poor old woman. As I reached the door I heard the voice of a little girl about 12 years old speaking cross, and threatening to do her grandmother harm. I opened the door and walked in, and I saw the little girl and her younger sister looking very unkind. I said to the little girls, “What are you going to do to poor old grandma.” They said, “Granny is so cross to us and scolds us all the time we are here and we can’t please her.” I don’t suppose they would have hurt the poor old body, but they thought if they would frighten her she might not be so cross. The poor sick woman did not tell me she was glad I came, but I think she was, for she seemed frightened when I went in. I was soon having a nice talk with her about the Lord Jesus. At first she said, “There is no salvation for a wicked old woman as I,” and then she told me a minister had called to see her once, and told her she was too bad to be saved. I am sure the little boys and girls who read for themselves or have this paper read to them, know that this minister was wrong, for none are too bad to be saved if they only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. So I opened the Bible and read a number of verses to her. One of them was John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” When I spoke to her of the word “whosoever” she said, “Well, that means me,” and as I went on to speak of the love of God to poor sinners in sending Jesus to die, I could see the tears roll down her wrinkled cheeks, and I felt her heart was reached so I spoke to her of her sins. She said, “I know they are very many and that is why I thought I could never be forgiven.” Was she not wrong, dear little ones, in having such thoughts? After I had prayed with her I left, asking God that His word would bring blessing to the poor old sufferer. Almost a year had gone by before I could call upon her again; and when I did everything was changed. The house was clean, three of her neighbors were in and she had the best of care, so I said, “Grandma, what has brought about such a change?” “Ah, Sir,” she said, “it is that 16th verse of John 3. I know that ‘whosoever’ means me and I know my sins are all forgiven.” It was not long after my second visit that I heard she had gone to be with the Lord, and that she was happy to the last. May all you little readers find the peace this old sufferer found through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, is our earnest prayer.
“A little child of seven.
Or even three or four;
May learn the way to heaven
Through Christ, the open door.”
E. B. H.
ML 01/21/1900