Blessed by Mrs. Helen E. Brown

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 10, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 35.

Blessed.

By Mrs. Helen E. Brown

A MOTHER was busy with her morning duties when a little child came running towards her with a toy. Tripping along, with a merry smile on her dimpled face, she was the very picture of grace and sweetness that would have won any heart. The mother's soul was transported with delight. Who has been a mother and has not known such ecstatic moments? She opened her arms, she caught the little prattler to her bosom, lavishing upon it caresses and endearing epithets.

"You little darling! Mamma's blessed one," she rapturously exclaimed.

"Blessed—what is blessed, mamma? What do you mean by that?" artlessly queried the little one.

"You are mamma's dearest treasure, the delight of her eyes and her heart," responded the fond mother, as again and again she kissed the upturned face.

The child slid happy from the embrace of love, and the mother proceeded with her duties. These led her to her bedroom, where she paused for a moment to take up her "Daily Food." "I'll stop to read the verse for the day," she said to herself. "I shall have something to think about as I clear up my room." The verse read: "Come, ye blessed of my Father." The mother's heart fairly stood still. Her own words to her baby, baby's question, and her reply flashed through her mind; and followed in quick succession, brought to her remembrance, no doubt, by the Holy Spirit, came the many sweet words of Scripture—"A peculiar treasure unto Me," "The Lord delighteth in thee," "My love, My fair one," "My jewels."

She was well taught in Bible phraseology, but the inner meaning of such words had never come to her before. "Am I my Father's 'blessed'?" she said; "His 'delight,' His 'treasure,' the 'apple of His eye,' just what my precious baby is to me? Oh, I never have thought of it; it seems as if I could not believe it." The broom and duster dropped from her hands, and she dropped on her knees, and all she could do was to weep tears of penitence and gratitude before the Father whose words of endearment had never come to her until that moment, but which she now ventured to accept; yea, how could she venture to do otherwise? It was not her own worthiness or loveliness she well knew that made her so dear to the Father's heart, but she was "in Christ," "accepted in the Beloved." She seemed to hear her Saviour saying, "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father;" "I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me."

From that hour there was a new meaning in life, a new motive for work, a new propelling power in the soul of this Christian woman. Her tender affection for her little one, the darling of her heart, had interpreted to her, though it was but a faint representation of, the love that encircled her, so pure, so true, so deep, so high. She understood now what the apostle meant when he prayed that his disciples might "comprehend" the love "which passeth knowledge." Henceforward she walked in the love of God, and it was like a light all about her—above, below, around, within. She walked "in the light," and had perpetual "fellowship" with the Unseen.

Is this a fabulous experience—an exceptional one? Dear reader, it is one you may have if you will "only believe."—Mrs. Helen E. Brown.