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Praying and Doing

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 2, 1882

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 5.

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Praying and Doing.

“BLESS the poor children who haven't got any beds to-night,” prayed a little boy just before he lay down on his nice, warm cot on a cold winter-night.
As he rose from his knees, his mother said:—
“You have just asked God to bless the poor children, what will you do to bless them?”
The boy thought for a moment. “Why, if I had a hundred cakes, enough for all the family, I would give them some.”
“But you have no cakes; what, then, are you willing to do?”
“When I get money enough to buy all the things I want, and have some over, I’ll give them some.”
“But you haven’t money enough to buy all you want, and perhaps never will have; what will you do to bless the poor now?”
“I’ll give them some bread.”
“You have no bread—the bread is mine.”
“Then I could earn money and buy a loaf myself.”
“Take things as they are now—you know you have what is your own; what are you willing to give to help the poor?”
The boy thought again. “I’ll give half my money; I have seven pennies: I’ll give them four. Wouldn’t that be right?”