p. 39 | A Singular Conversion

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 16, 1872

A Singular Conversion.

MARIA was a lively, joyful young lady, the center of attraction among her companions. She became fond of dancing, and lost no opportunity of attending parties of pleasure. A friend of hers, who loved Christ, and was a faithful teacher in a Sabbath-school, at length spoke to her after this manner: “Maria, I do wish you would take a class in our Sabbath-school.” The thoughtless girl, amazed at the proposition, said, “What! I take a class—a giddy creature as I am? Why, the idea is preposterous!” Her friend was urgent, and asked her to come and just try it awhile, as they were very short of teachers. Her kind entreaties won the consent of the lover of pleasure.

A class of little girls was given her, in whom she became greatly interested, and continued her instructions with regularity. One day, passing along the street, she came to a group of girls who were busily talking. In a moment one of them exclaimed, running to the arms of her teacher, “Here comes my Sabbath-school teacher! I know she loves Jesus—don’t you, Miss Maria?” This was God’s arrow from the hand of a little girl. The teacher could not speak a word, but kissed her little scholar and wept.

On reaching home, after weeping over a life misspent in pursuing shadows, she kneeled down and asked the Lord Jesus to receive her. He heard her cry, accepted the offering. And now Maria feels more than ever that life is earnest—that the religion and service of Christ yield more real joy than all the pleasures of sin, which bring only bitterness and death.—Chris. Press.