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A
captain’s widow, whom I knew for many years of our chapel, was much concerned
for the conversion of her son, who was a sailor. For a long time he had
promised to be a comfort and help to his mother; but through the influence of
bad companions he became very wicked and dissolute. Many times have I gone to
the public house and other places of temptation to allure him home to his
mother’s house; and in no instance when his mother’s name had been mentioned
has he refused to come; for on him the charming name of mother seemed to
exercise a potent, irresistible spell. I have often taken him up into our
Sunday-school room, where he used to be a scholar, and have reasoned and
prayed him till the tears ran down his cheeks, and he would promise to get on
“a better tack.” |
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On one of these
occasions I gave him a pocket Bible, in which he engaged to read one verse a
day until the ship returned from |
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One
evening she remarked: “I am near the grave, I feel
my time here is very short; I will leave a message for my boy, which you must
deliver to him.” Observing her extreme weakness, I prayed with her a few
moments, and promised to see her early the next day. Accordingly I called,
and saw that she was indeed dying. She desired to be propped up in bed, and
to sing a hymn; and, in order to support her in this final effort, her two
daughters knelt on the bed, and upheld her as well as they could. She spoke
to them of her funeral and her property. When this business had been
transacted she said to me: “I know that I am dying, but I have no fear; all
is light and beautiful. Christ is here, Christ is mine, and I am his.” Her
voice became stronger and clearer, and she bade us sing. Her daughters could
sing but little, their hearts were too full. However, we all did our best in
singing her favorite verses. |
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“Fearless
of hell and ghastly death, |
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I’d break
through every foe; |
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The wings of love and arms of faith, |
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Would bear me conqueror through.” |
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While we were
singing, a loud knocking was heard. A servant having gone for the doctor, I
went to the door, and, my surprise, found the sailor-boy just returned. I
explained to him his mother’s condition, and got remain in the parlor till I
broke the news to her, returned to her bedside, she said: “Oh I thought it
was my dear boy. Oh; how I should to see him once more, and to give him my
blessing.’ |
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“Are you
able,” I inquired, “to hear him, or to see him? With a smile, she replied: “I
can bear anything, through Christ.” |
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I went for
the sailor, and when I brought him into the room we found her praying, with
her eyes closed, for her only son. In a few moments she looked around and saw
her long absent child. He threw his arms around his mother’s neck and tried
to speak, but could not. But the mother cried: ”Hallelujah!
Jesus is faithful and true;” and after one kiss, she added: |
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“My dear
boy, I am dying and going to Jesus. I have prayed every day for you, my dear
Frank. What shall I tell Jesus about you? Your father is there,” pointing
upwards “your sisters are on the way. Oh, what shall
I tell my blessed Savior?” |
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“You can
tell Him what you like, mother. I am a Christian, converted to God, mother;
and he knows all about. |
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“The mother’s
heart was full; the good news overcame her strength, and she exclaimed: |
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“Let me
go, Lord, I have seen thy salvation! My prayers are all answered! My son is
saved, clothed, and in his right mind! Glory! Glory! Glory!” |
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After
sleeping a few minutes she awoke with a beautiful smile on her face, and
said: “I see the angels, harps, crowns; bright, golden crowns! Let me go!“ and, raising her hand above her head, she exclaimed:
“Victory, through faith in His blood!” Then her arm fell, her eyes closed,
and her spirit returned to God who gave it. – T.G. Garland. |
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Touching
Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer By S. B. SHAW. |
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From: http://www.ccel.org/ |