A BOY'S THOUGHT by Hope Onslow

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 21, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 34.

A BOY'S THOUGHT.

By Hope Onslow

The following story is told of a minister in the M. E. Church, who has not lived beyond the years when he can say, “One day ‘my Lord was old as I.” Dear boys, let the inspiration of this thought have a moulding influence in your life also and may the same noble comradeship make you kings and priests unto Him who loves you, and gave Himself for you, that He might save you.

“As HE was in the world, are we,” Was written on a card That led a mother and her boys To talk about the Lord, And think of Jesus’ early life, And dwell upon His love, From child to youth, from youth to man, And of His works above.

One day the eldest lad came in With features all aglow. “O mamma! I have had a thought You’ll surely want to know!” His eyes grew very dark and deep, As if in some amaze,— “One day my Lord was old as I, Had lived as many days.

“And one day Jesus measured up In height the same as I.” He took his tape-line from its place, And measured just how high: Then grew an earnest, solemn peace O’er all his youthful grace; It seemed we caught a look divine Upon his boyish face.

And day by day the pleasant thought Took hold upon his heart: It seemed the Saviour was a boy, Nor walked from Him apart; Companion of His youthful days, He learned the heavenly plan, And grew in stature and in grace, Beloved of God and man.

We thought, How graceful is the lad, How upright, and how pure, How eager for the true and high, For good that shall endure! And guessed how, day by day, he took Anew the measuring line, And squared his shoulders and his soul To meet the height divine.

To-day within the sacred desk He stands as Jesus stood, And breaks the bread of life divine To give the hungry food. His face aglow with heavenly light, He spreads the Saviour’s fame; And still he says, “My Lord and I Of days have lived the same.”

Still, morn by morn, the thought sweeps in, With solemn, holy joy: “My Lord and I still measure up As when I was a boy, As He was in the world, am I; He keeps me by His grace, And lets His love-light fill my eyes, And smile upon my face.

“His love still pleads with men through me; My arms are reached as His; Through dark Gethsemane to the cross We’ll walk, and will not miss. Through Joseph’s tomb to God’s high throne, My Lord and I will go: As He was in the world, so I Shall all His pathway know.

“And day of days shall come at last, When I shall find my place, When that sweet presence by my side Will meet me face to face: O, heart to heart we long have been; And on through endless ways, I still shall measure by my Lord, And live as many days!”

Hope Onslow.