IT WAS evening after a hot summer day, and Mary Hartman, a poor widow sat by the open window of her cottage. The moon shone bright and lighted her face as well as that of little six-year old Anton resting at his mother’s feet. It was lovely and quiet but the poor widow was not happy. Supper was still on the table and tears rolled down her cheeks.
At the beginning of the year Mary had become a widow. Because of his thrift and diligence, her husband had been able to borrow enough money to buy a small cottage and garden. He and his young wife and little boy lived together very happily until typhus snatched him away. She had lovingly nursed him through his long illness and then took ill herself. However, the Lord, being merciful to little Anton, spared his mother. Slowly she recovered, but then found herself in extreme circumstances. Still she had confidence in the One, who having comforted and sustained her husband in his suffering, is also the Father of orphans and widows.
For a long time John Hartman had been employed by a rich farmer and had been noted for his honesty and faithfulness. When he bought the cottage and garden the farmer had loaned him one thousand dollars with the understanding that he was to pay back one hundred dollars every year. John had done this regularly until he had been taken ill. Mary knew there was only one payment left. However, the farmer had also died, and a son-in-law became the heir. Among other papers was discovered a debt of one thousand dollars against John Hartman. Not knowing the circumstances, he required the whole amount from the widow. It was useless to try and convince him otherwise, as she could produce no evidence. He did not believe her and went to court. Because she had no receipt for the nine hundred dollars, she was ordered to pay the full amount or lose her home. All her pleadings were ignored, and now in a few hours, her home was to be sold at auction.
As she sat weeping, suddenly little Anton got up and throwing his arms around his mother said: “Don’t cry, Mommie! Don’t you remember what Daddy said when he was sick? `Don’t worry', he said, ‘God will take care of you.’ Isn’t it true what Daddy said?”
“Yes, my dear; what father said is true,” his mother assured him.
“But why do you cry?” asked Aon. “When I was with Daddy in the forest I ran to him whenever I got hungry and he always gave me something to eat. If God is our Father, He will surely help us. Why don’t we ask Him?”
“You are right, dear Anton,” said Mother, and together they knelt down and pleaded with the Lord to deliver them in their trouble.
The tears stopped. Courage returned to the heart of the poor widow. Suddenly the little boy exclaimed: “Look, Mommie, what is that little spark? Now it is coming in the window; oh how pretty! See it near the table. What is it?”
“That is a fire fly, Anton,” explained Mother. “In the day time you cannot see them, but at night they are so pretty.”
“May I catch it? Will it burn my fingers?” asked the boy.
“Oh no,” Mother answered. “Catch the little fellow, but do not squeeze him.”
Trouble was soon forgotten in the excitement of the moment. The glowing little creature flew near the table, then under the chair, and again over his head. Just as he thought he had it, it flew behind an old cupboard that stood against the wall.
“Oh, it got away,” said Anton a little disappointed. “It’s up there on the wall. I can see it again but I’m too short to get it.”
“Have a little patience, it will fly again,” said Mother.
He waited a few moments, but the little bug seemed content in his resting place, and appeared to have no intention of further amusing his pursuer. Then the excited boy said to the mother, “Please move the cup board so I can catch him.”
Mary did as her little boy wanted, and soon happy Anton had the little bug a prisoner. But the mother’s attention was absorbed in something altogether different. As she moved the cupboard a little book had fallen I down behind it. She picked it up and cried out for joy.
“Oh, how wonderful! I have found it. Here is that calendar I have searched for. Now we can prove that father paid the money they require of us.”
In a moment she had a lamp burning and with tears of joy and thankfulness was turning the calendar leaves. There it was in black and white showing the date of each payment as well as the balance, and signed by the farmer—R. R.
The widow was nearly beside herself with joy. Her burden was gone. No longer need she fear that she and little Anton would be homeless.
“Let us give thanks to the Lord, Anton,” she said. On account of his mother’s joy he gladly gave the little bug its freedom and exclaimed, “We can stay in our home. The Lord stood by us.”
Yes, the One who is a very present help in trouble heard their prayers. He sent a little messenger to the place the long sought-for calendar lay hidden. The carefully stored receipt had come to light at the right time. The Lord had watched over it.
Dear reader, the question is: Are you cleansed from your sins through the precious blood of Christ? Are you reconciled to God? If you can thankfully rejoice in this, then learn from this story how to trust the Lord in the most trying circumstances. An old calendar is not worth much in itself yet how valuable this one proved. And what about the little insignificant fire fly? Who guided all the movements of this little insect from the garden into the window, and to the wall above the cupboard? Who directed the attention of the little boy to that glowing wonder and in this way brought about the discovery of the lost receipts. It was the Lord. Thus it is in little things that oftentimes we may discover His loving care the most. Oh may we learn to trust Him more fully. Nothing else gives rest of heart.
The following morning the happy widow hurried to the judge. The young farmer was sent for, and the calendar presented to him. As Mary told the story of how wonderfully God had delivered her in the hour of trial by using a little fire fly to lead them to the calendar, many were in tears. Deeply touched and ashamed, the young farmer confessed his hardness of heart and canceled the remaining debt. He also gave Mary employment in his home.
The Lord proved again that He is the Father of not only widows and orphans, but of all those that put their trust in Him.
ML-03/09/1969