Why Louise Was Sorry

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 4
 
"Bed time Louise! Come, and I’ll help you get ready," Mother called.
But Louise ran away and hid for she did not want to go to bed. Mother had to call sharply before she came.
All evening Louise had been naughty. She had been selfish with her toys, and had teased her little sister Grace. When she was finally ready for bed she ran to kiss her Daddy goodnight.
As Daddy put his arm around her he said, "My little girl has been naughty tonight! Louise, did you know that the Lord Jesus had to die because you are so naughty and sinful?"
Louise burst into tears and sobbed as though her heart would break.
Daddy went on, "The Lord Jesus loves you, dear, and wants to save you. Mother and I pray that someday you will believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved. Now run to bed!"
Mother was waiting to sing some choruses and pray with Louise and Grace. They loved to sing motion choruses, and had a good time together. But when Louise started to pray she began to sob.
"What is it, dear?" Mother asked.
At first Louise could not speak for she was sobbing so hard, but finally she said, "Daddy said Jesus had to die because I was naughty!"
"Yes, dear, Jesus died for you because you are naughty. God punished Jesus instead of you for the naughty things you have done. He loves you so much, and that was the only way He could take your sin away."
Louise cried more and more, and finally she said through her tears, "Is Jesus dead now because I was naughty?"
Daddy had come in, and he answered, "No, dear, Jesus is not dead now. God raised Him from the grave and He is living in heaven now. Some day He will take all who love Him up to heaven to live with Him forever."
Louise finally stopped crying and prayed with her Mother. But before she finished she began to sob again.
"Louise! What is the matter now?"
"Oh, Mommy!" she sobbed, "I’m so sorry Jesus had to die because I was naughty!"
Are you sorry Jesus had to die for your sin, too? Why don’t you tell Him so, and receive Him as your Savior?
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).