The Faith of a Child

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 1, 1902

The Faith of a Child

A LITTLE boy lay very sick. His minister came to see him, but finding him weak, spoke few sentences. Before parting, however, he gave the child a verse of five words as a motto, a word for each finger of one hand. The sick boy counted over the words on his pale fingers. Yes; there they were, five only, and one for each knuckle. The—Lord—is—my—Shepherd. “And my is the best of the five,” he said. A few days later another visit was paid to that same home. At the door the sorrowing mother met the minister. “It is all over,” she said; “my little son is dead. But come and see him.” And she led the way to the darkened room. Very thin and white was the little face, very sweet and peaceful was the countenance of the little sleeper. Then the mother drew down the coverlet, and, turning to the minister, said: “That’s the best.” The little hands were crossed, and on the fourth knuckle of the left hand rested still a finger of the other hand. In silence the life had sped, with the hands clasped to utter, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”— Selected.