Some years ago, it was my privilege to work as a visitor in one of our poor districts. In a basement of one place where I used to visit, lived a pious old soldier, who had lost one of his legs.
This, however, did not trouble him much, nor yet his deep poverty, but his one trouble was that his wife was not a Christian, and it was a burden that lay heavy on his heart.
The simple faith of the old soldier at once won my heart, and I often visited him to have a little reading of the Word. together.
One day they had no food in the house, and a penny was the only coin they possessed. The soldier’s wife asked him to go to the baker’s to buy a penny roll, and while going he met a man with a wife, and three children, who were, if possible, worse off than himself, for they were sick and hungry. His heart was so touched that he gave the man his penny instead of buying bread.
Then he thought, ‘What will my wife say?’ and not liking to go home empty-handed, he walked up and down, asking the Lord all the time to supply his need.
Just then a man asked him the way to the Post Office; the soldier offered to show him the way, and while walking together, the man asked him if he were not the soldier he had known years ago, He replied that he was, upon which the man put a 25 cent piece in his hand, and bade him farewell.
“Is not our Master ever true to His word, and does He not bless a hundredfold all we do for His sake?” said the old soldier.
I was greatly touched by his story, and felt how wonderful are the links in the chain of our lives, that show to those who look for them, the love and care of the Lord Jesus for His people.
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5.7.
ML 11/23/1941