Lost!

From: Messages of God's Love: 1961

One cold, cheerless Sunday night a poor woman was hurrying down one of the crowded streets of the big city, and her face wore such an anxious look that I inquired the cause of her trouble.

“I have lost my little boy,” said she; “he went to Sunday school this afternoon, and he has not come home.

His father and I are almost distracted, and I am now going to the police station to see if he has been taken there.”

“Let me help you,” said I; so we hurried to the nearest police station. We entered a bare room, where stood several blue-coated officers. We told our errand, and a ray of hope lit up the poor mother’s face as a policeman pointed to a dark corner of the room where a little boy was lying upon a bench. His face was toward the wall, his head had fallen on his breast, and he lay fast asleep. The mother hastened toward him, hoping that the little fellow was her boy, but as the glare of the light fell upon his face her hopes were crushed. He was not her son. Her sorrow became greater through the disappointment, but though weary and dispirited, she hurried to the next station. It was some distance off, and I could not accompany her, but I hoped she found her lost little son.

I was a wandering sheep,

I did not love the fold;

I did not love my Shepherd’s voice,

I would not be controlled:

I was a wayward child,

I did not love my home,

I did not love my Father’s voice,

I loved afar to roam.

The Shepherd sought His sheep,

The Father sought His child;

They followed me o’er vale and hill,

O’er deserts waste and wild;