I AM very happy! I can say it now, but is it not strange that during my long life I could not at any time say it until a few days ago? That is because I did not know the One who makes me happy now. O, had I only known Him! what blessedness would have been mine during so many years, when on the contrary, I was cast down with care, and did not know what would happen to me when the time came for me to leave this world.
I want to tell you how I came to learn of my blessed Lord. You remember Tom, our dear boy, our only child, a good son to father and me, although sometimes light and thoughtless. He found a good situation as head gardener in a family living at E. about six miles from here.
Until then, he had lived with us, working as gardener close by us. I was very sad the day Torn left us, but I was glad on his account, and would not keep him back, nevertheless father and I missed him terribly. One day father said,
“The first pleasant Sunday we will go to E. and spend the whole day with Tom, and see what kind of a place he has.”
Last Saturday, when we awoke, the weather was so beautiful that father said,
“Well, mother, if tomorrow is as beautiful as today, we’ll leave at four o’clock to go to E. So, Molly, be sure you are on time.”
I prepared everything, and made a nice prune pie for Tom, just as he likes it. I put it in a cloth with some bread and cheese for breakfast for father and me, and Sunday morning, at four o’clock, we started.
At first, for a good mile, we followed a pleasant green path. We would not stop to eat breakfast until we should find a pretty place. Soon we came near a gate in a hedge along the road, and on the other side there was a lovely meadow with large trees under which we could sit comfortably. Then father said,
“Molly, it will save us a good bit if we cross this meadow, because the path goes all the way around it, and we can come out at the gate on the opposite side.”
But the gate was locked, and on the side post was a board with some writing on it. But neither father nor I had ever learned to write, so we did not bother about the board, but we climbed over, and crossed the meadow, and over the other gate. That was locked also, and had the same kind of a board on the other side.
“Well, Molly,” said father, “here is a nice patch of grass; let us sit down and eat our breakfast.”
I untied the cloth, and as I was sitting down I saw a gentleman on the other side of the gate. He looked at us severely,
and said sharply,
“You two have violated the law. You are trespassers.”
“I beg your pardon, sir,” said father, “but I don’t know what you mean.”
“Look here,” he said, pointing to the board, “do you not see what is written? ‘All trespassers will be prosecuted according to the law.’ It means that you are not allowed to cross these grounds. If the landlord had found you on his property, he would have had the right to have you both punished.”
“We are sorry to have done that,” said father, “but you see, sir, we did not know that we were trespassing, because neither my wife nor I have ever learned to read, and we had no idea what was written on the board.”
Then father told the gentleman that we were going to E. to see our Tom; that it was a pretty long way off, and we wanted to shorten it some by crossing the meadow, so we’d have more time to spend with the boy. The gentleman became quite friendly, and said,
“It was not your fault entirely, and I believe you would not have done it, had you known. Now, finish your breakfast, and while you eat, I want to speak with you. For it is possible that, unknowingly, you have been trespassers all your lives, and the sooner you learn it, the better for you. You see that I showed you what you did not know, that you committed an offence toward the owner of this land; perhaps you don’t know either that you have all your lives transgressed against a greater one than he.”
“Maybe you are right,” said father, “but I don’t understand what you mean.” The gentleman looked very serious, and said,
“There is One in heaven, who is greater than anyone else. He it is, who made us, takes care of us every day of our lives. and has given us all we have. He has told us what He wants us to do to please Him in return for His goodness to us. But He looked from heaven upon the earth, and saw that all, men arid women. boys and girls, forget Him, and care nothing for Him, or His kindness. It made Him sad that all were transgressors, that all loved their own way, and did what they pleased. He saw that all received blessings from His hand—sunshine, rain, food, clothing and shelter, without as much as thinking to thank Him. According to righteousness, He should have inflicted a terrible chastisement for such wickedness, for they care not to obey Him; but in spite of all, He loved them. Yes, He loved them so much, that although so wicked, and such great sinners, He wanted them with Him, in heaven, after having made them clean, and worthy to be with Him in His house. For this, mv dear people, He sent from heaven, His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He might be punished in their stead.
The Lord Jesus lived on the earth for thirty-three years. He went from place to place, doing good, speaking to people about the love of the Father who sent Him. But just because He was good, men hated Him, and finally killed Him. God, His Father, had sent Him, and He who had done no wrong suffered the punishment which the transgressors deserved. He was punished for them, that they might go free, and befit for God’s presence. He did all that in love for us, poor unworthy sinners. And you, dear friends, what have you done in return for so much love? Have you had for Him a tenth part of the love you have for your Tom, or even for the friends who are kind to you? Have you served Him all your days, or do you arise each morning and retire each night without even thinking of Him?”
Father turned to me, and said,
“Molly, the gentleman tells the truth; you and I are transgressors against God, and we did not know it.”
I knew father was right, and I said,
“O, sir we have been transgressors until today. What shall we do?” The gentleman said,
“You can do nothing, but the Lord Jesus has done all. He sent me to tell you that for those who believe, there is love and joy and peace forever. It is because God loves you that He sent His Son, and now if you believe in your heart, you may be happy because your sins are forgiven.”
He told us much more of Jesus and His love. We can never forget it; we were so happy because of such good news. We said, “Good bye”, and arose to go on our way. Then I said,
“O, father, we have not thanked the Lord, nor the gentleman for these good things. What can we do to show him we are thankful? I’ll run after him, and give him the pie I made for Tom. Perhaps he has not had his breakfast yet.” Father said,
“Yes, give him the pie.”
I ran as fast as I could, and called,
“O, sir, I was taking this pie to Tom, but if you will take it, I’ll be very glad, for I want you to know we are thankful, John and I, for what you have told us.” But the gentleman said,
“No, thank you; keep your pie for Tom. I don’t want anything for having spoken to you; it is a joy and a pleasure to speak to every one of the Lord Jesus, and it is to Him, that you can give thanks. You may thank Him, and praise Him, and love Him, and serve Him, the rest of your days. Some day we shall meet up there, and together shall sing His praises.”
He went on his way, and John and I went to E. The day was too short to tell Tom all we had heard about the Lord Jesus and His love. I hope Tom will be as happy as father and I, and that all three will meet the kind gentleman in heaven where we’ll thank the Lord all the time.
ML 05/07/1922