Donny just sat on the old log at the top of the hill behind his house. It was a beautiful fall day with bright sunshine, blue sky and drifting white clouds. But Donny was not seeing much of this beauty. He was not enjoying the red and yellow leaves or the sounds of the combine harvesting corn at the farm down the road.
Today Donny’s thoughts were on Spotty, his dog that had just died. Donny and Spotty had played on this same hill many times. They had often sat together at this same spot, but not anymore. Yesterday Spotty had been hit by a car and had died.
Donny Alloyne was a lonely boy and did not make new friends easily. His father’s job had made them move every couple of years. Donny did not even like his last name, Alloyne, which was pronounced “alone.” He was really alone now without Spotty.
As Donny sat staring off into space, he was so sad and lonely. Suddenly, his attention was caught by the rustle of leaves and cracking of a twig. Turning, he saw old Mr. Turner climbing up the hill.
Mr. Turner was a nice old man who lived in a small house down the road. He was usually either working in his garden or walking in the woods. Donny had met him before up here on the hill.
Mr. Turner stopped and talked with Donny for a couple of minutes. Then realizing something was wrong, he sat down and asked, “What’s wrong, son?”
Donny could not hold the tears back, and with a choking voice he told Mr. Turner all about Spotty’s accident. Mr. Turner listened quietly to the whole story. He tried to comfort Donny. But it was no use—without Spotty, Donny was all alone.
Sitting beside the sobbing boy, Mr. Turner silently asked his Saviour, the Lord Jesus, for just the right words to say to Donny. Mr. Turner understood what loneliness was. His wife had died a number of years before. He also knew that it was only the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who could really fill Donny’s heart with happiness.
As he sat on the log beside Donny, Mr. Turner began to tell him about this “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:2424A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24). He told about His promise of always being with us. Gently and simply he told the story to Donny, picturing the love of God in giving His Son, and of Jesus’ love in being willing to die for sinners. He then read to Donny from his small pocket Bible about the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Donny listened carefully. He had never heard anything like this before. He had, of course, heard about Jesus, but he never knew about His love for sinners. Donny also saw for the first time that he was a sinner and needed his sins forgiven. Right there on the log beside Mr. Turner, he accepted the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour.
After that things were different. A new happiness and friendliness came into his empty, lonely heart. The love of God and his newfound Saviour filled his life. It wasn’t long before his parents and school friends noticed the difference. When they asked what had happened, he told them about how lonely he had been and what Mr. Turner had told him. He explained to them how the Lord Jesus was now his own Saviour and was always with him.
Are you lonely and searching for something like Donny was? The Lord Jesus Christ can fill and satisfy that need. Will you let Him? “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20).
ML-09/26/1982