Herb was a happy little boy when he got his dog Spot. He loved being in the country with Spot and he liked the millstream that ran through the pasture and under a little bridge and past another field where asparagus grew so thickly he couldn't see where the irrigation ditch flowed between the rows.
Beyond the stream was a railroad track. Herb looked forward each day to the coming of the train. This was in the days of steam engines, before diesel engines were used. Like a huge monster of steel and fire, it shrieked at the crossing with a loud whistle, then plunged roaring through the pasture, shaking the very ground beneath his feet and the marrow in his bones, leaving him tingling with excitement.
The fireman and engineer always waved to Herb and he returned the greeting. This was a meeting he must always keep no matter what else was happening. Until the day that his dog Spot was too eager in his welcome and became involved in the wheels and steel and little was left to even remember him by.
From then on, the whistle seemed to make fun of him and he had little desire for the noise and smoke and awful power. He chose to not notice it and would sit on the back steps with his face turned sadly the other way.
The engineer and fireman missed seeing their little boyfriend. They had been boys once too and knew how he must feel. They understood the sadness in the heart of a small boy in losing the friendliest little dog he had ever had.
One day though, Herb's face turned to see what his ears were telling him had happened. The big engine had snorted to a stop (as if stopped by hands you couldn't see) right in the middle of the pasture! He couldn't believe what he saw as he watched the fireman swing down the steps of the big engine with something under his arm and start walking through the tall grass toward him. His sharp eyes noticed the black and white little animal, for he knew the soft ears and nose of a puppy, even before the fireman put it in his arms with a friendly grin. His heart beat real fast and he got so excited that he choked when he tried to say "Thanks." But the engineer and the fireman didn't need any thanks. The sight of a little boy waving one arm and holding a little puppy in the other each day after that was all the thanks they wanted.
We have a Friend Who came right down to where we are. Have you come to know this Friend of little children? His name is Jesus, He is God's Son. He knows where you live and all about you. I hope you will come to Him just as you are and thank Him for dying on the cross to bear the punishment of your sins. "AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME." John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12).
WHEREAS YE KNOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW. FOR WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS EVEN A VAPOR, THAT APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY.