An Answer to Prayer by M. G. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1914

An Answer to Prayer

By M. G. S.

M. G. S.

THE Lord is good. He heard my prayer, And pitied every groan; Long as I live and troubles rise I’ll hasten to his throne.

After listening to the frivolous talk of my unconverted, worldly daughter, of how she would like to have a diamond ring, a certain kind of dress, and be popular

in society, my heart was heavy and my mind disturbed. I told her how alarmed I felt to know that her ambition and her heart were fixed on the perishable things of this world at such a time as this, when the Lord Jesus is preparing to make a short work in the earth.

I sought the Lord, imploring him to give me wisdom to know what to say and do, and how to help her. While I was yet meditating, several scenes were presented to my mind, such as the sinking of the “Titanic,” the earthquake of San Francisco, the tidal wave at Galveston, and the recent floods in which fortunes in finery, such as jewels, clothes, and elegant homes, were destroyed with the owners. In my imagination I could see those doomed people, blanched with terror, as they faced death with no thought of their possessions at that awful moment; and I wished that my daughter could be made to see them as they were presented to me.

It was not long before I had an occasion to say to her, after relating my experience: “My dear, in the case of those very wealthy victims whom death was staring in the face, how much thought do you suppose they gave to their gems, costly raiment, and position? ‘All that a man hath will he give for his life;’ and if this mortal life is so sweet, how should we regard the immortal life?” She seemed thoughtful, but made no reply. The next day she said to me: “Mother, you remember what we were talking about yesterday? Well, I had a dream which I am sure was the result of that conversation. I thought I was on some great thoroughfare and my hands were decked with jewels of all kinds. I saw a great concourse of people moving rapidly, screaming with fear and horror, and as I looked I saw a great cloud of fire rolling toward us and the earth trembling under our feet, making fissures into which people were falling; and we all knew that the end of all things was at hand. I fairly stripped those rings from my fingers and cast them among the debris that was rolling together.” She tried to laugh off lightly the impression it was making on her mind; but I knew that it was an answer to my prayer, and that she would not be able to throw it off as she would an ordinary dream.

Huntsville, Ala.