The following story of an incident in the life of President Lincoln was told by a soldier: “I had been in the hospital several months. One day in May, President Lincoln and Secretary Chase walked into the ward where I was lying. You don’t know how much good it did us to see them.
“We boys took solid comfort looking at Lincoln’s face that afternoon, and hearing him talk. He didn’t say much to me that day, but it was good to hear him say anything; his words were so gentle and so kind. And then he was as thoughtful as a mother; he knew just what to say. I had been very sick. He only spoke a few words to me, and passed on to Number 26.
“Number 26 was a Vermont boy, not over 16; he had been mortally wounded and was near his end. Mr. Lincoln stopped at his bed and, taking the thin white hand in his said in a tone that was as tender as a mother’s, " ‘My poor boy, what can I do for you?’
“With a beseeching look, the little fellow turned his eyes up at the homely, kindly face, and asked, ‘Would you write to my mother for me?’
" ‘Sure I will,” answered the President, and calling for pen, ink, and paper, seated himself at the bedside. It was a long letter that he wrote, at least three pages, and when it was finished the President rose saying; " ‘I’ll mail this as soon as I get back to my office. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?
“In some way the boy had come to know that it was the President. So, looking at him in the most appealing sort of way, he asked; “Won’t you stay with me ‘till it’s all over? It won’t be long, and I do want to hold on to your hand.’
“That was too much for the greathearted President to resist. The tears came to his eyes, and he sat down by him and took hold of his hand. The little fellow did not move or speak a word. This was sometime before 4:00 and it was long after 6:00 that the end came.
“But the President sat there as though he had been the boy’s father. When the end came, he bent over and folded the thin hands over the boy’s breast and then looked very sorrowfully at the pale thin face. The tears streamed down his cheeks unheeded. We all cried too.”
If love moved the heart of President Lincoln to tears, what love must move the heart of Christ, who gave Himself upon the cross for sinners like you and me.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Cor. 5:14,1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15).)
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
ML-07/16/1978