Close to where John Edwards lived there was a pond, and he and his elder brother Frank sometimes floated there on a raft they had made.
It happened that one day Frank had to go to the neighboring village. He would be away for some hours, and this gave John the chance for which he had long waited. He and Frank sometimes quarreled about the raft, because Frank would always insist upon having his own way with the steering.
The mother of the boys was an invalid and unfortunately confined to her room. Naturally, she was nervous about the adventures of her sons on the pond.
When Mrs. Edwards learned that Frank had gone to the village, she sent word by the nurse that on no account must John go on the pond. But John said to himself, “Mother does not understand. As if a fellow of nine years old cannot take care of himself!”
So John went to the pond, and after much trouble, he managed to get the raft to the bank. As he leaped on board, however, it floated away and losing his balance, he was plunged into the water up to his chin.
With much difficulty he scrambled back onto the raft, but feeling chilled by the cold water, he maneuvered his frail craft to the bank again, and ran home with all his might.
It was impossible to conceal from the nurse what had happened, for his dripping clothes told the tale, and John realized that when his mother learned of his disobedience she would be deeply grieved.
This made him very miserable. He didn’t know what to do to obtain her forgiveness, because the nurse would not allow him into his mother’s room.
After some little time and much anxious thought, John made up his mind.
Getting a slate, he wrote on it: “Dear Mother, I am so sorry I did what you told me not to do. I went to the pond and fell into the water. I am so unhappy because I disobeyed you; please forgive me. If you do, rub all this out and ask nurse to give me the slate again. With love, John.”
Taking the slate to the door, John asked the nurse to hand it to his mother. Then he waited outside the door. Almost at once the nurse came out and returned the slate to him.
John scarcely dared look at it, but ran off downstairs where he could be alone and then found that one side of the slate was quite clean. Summoning up courage, John turned it over, and found that the other side was also quite clean. Oh how very glad he was to know he had been forgiven!
This is just what the Lord Jesus will do for each boy or girl, and older one too, that comes to Him. If we are sorry and repentant, and confess our sins, He will wipe them all away in His precious blood shed on Calvary’s cross.
True repentance is taking sides with God against our sins and asking Him to put those sins away. This He now can do since Jesus has died. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
ML 11/12/1961