The Mother's Faith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 6, 1870

“The Mother's Faith.”

A FACT.

“I SHOULD like to know what mother thinks of the Lord, now!” exclaimed a little boy of ten years, as a group of half-starved brothers and sisters were preparing for school without a breakfast, one bitter cold morning.

Well knew each member of that hungry band of little ones, that through all the trying scenes of poverty, in their father's long illness, a firm and unwavering faith upheld their praying mother. But now, when the last fire had been made, and the last frugal meal of baked potatoes eaten, and her own frail form was sinking beneath its burden of work and sorrow, the climax seemed reached. “What does mother think of the Lord, now?” fell upon the ears of one of the loveliest women I ever met. It was from the lips of her first-born, her darling, for whose submission to God she had ever been hoping and striving. The words fell upon her heart like lead. It was a new test of her sorely tried faith, a new drop added to their bitter cup.

A long and severe sickness of her husband had reduced them to extreme poverty, and with no resource but the needle, it had been difficult to meet the demands of a large family, and perform sick-room duties at the same time. When this eventful morning dawned, there was no more food in the house, and just wood enough to build one more fire. A slice of borrowed bread was toasted for the sick man, and his chair, drawn before the last fire. He knew not the destitution, the toil, the self-sacrifice, that oppressed his wife; he only saw the smiles, the industry, the neatness, and the patient waiting for brighter days.

When the daring words of the hungry boy fell upon that Christian mother's ears, she just lifted up her heart, in the silent eloquence and fervor of ejaculatory prayer, known only to the burdened and toil-worn disciple. The answer came, “The Lord is good, his mercy endureth forever.” Her heart responded, and as she raised her eyes to the window, two good loads of wood standing there testified that she had not thought too much of her Heavenly Father, or trusted in his promises too long. The sun shone again upon that household, and never more did Henry say, “I wonder what mother thinks of the Lord, now.”—Sel.