I KNEW a little girl called Eleanor who lived in a beautiful island where there was plenty of nice fruit, which was sold by women who sat at their stalls in the market place. One day, when Eleanor was about eight years old, she was passing with her mother through the market, and she put out her little hand and took one gooseberry. As they came back she was going to take another, but she saw the woman looking at her, and so was afraid to do it.
Four years passed away, and Eleanor became weak and ill, and had not long to live. Her pale face and large grave eyes did not look happy, and at last she told her mother what so greatly troubled her. She knew that when she took that gooseberry it was a sin against God, and this made her afraid to die. Her mother did not say it was only a little thing, but she told Eleanor, the story of the thief on the cross, and Eleanor said, as the tears ran down her cheeks, that she was like that thief. But I am glad to tell you that before long Eleanor trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and knew that God had forgiven not only one of her sins, but all, for it is written: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.” I saw her lying peacefully on her bed before she died, and heard her say, “What should I do without Him?”
And now, dear children, I want to ask you this question: How long do you think God remembers your sins? No doubt Eleanor had done many other naughty things, but as I have told you, even one sin troubled her greatly. You may forget many things which you have done; but God knows them all, and I want you to come to Jesus, that He may wash you clean from every spot in His precious blood.
Another thing I wish to say to you is this: Never do anything-that you would not like your mother to see you doing. Mother may be upstairs or gone out, still there is One who is always looking at you wherever you are, by night or by day. You might hide something you have done from your mother, but you cannot hide it from God.
ML 01/10/1904