In the year 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia. But the bitter cold of the Russian winter brought about his defeat, and he and his troops were forced to return to France.
The Cossacks followed after them as fast as they could. People who lived along the way were frightened at the thought of what those fierce armed Russian horsemen might do to them. Many fled from their homes, and sought safety elsewhere.
In a small cottage lived an old lady with her little grandson. She had no place to go, so she decided to stay at home and pray to God for His protection.
“Oh God,” she pleaded, “be a wall about us.”
“What do you mean by a wall, Grandma?” asked the little boy in wonder.
“You will see, my child,” she replied quietly.
That night the Cossacks passed through, plundering as they went. But they didn’t go near the grandmother’s cottage. She and the little boy slept peacefully all night long.
In the morning they found that God had indeed been a wall to them. A heavy snow had fallen during the night and the wind had raised a great drift between the road and their home, thus completely hiding the cottage from view.
Both grandmother and grandson got down on their knees and thanked God for His great love and protecting care.
ML-08/13/1978