Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 70, 7 May 1943, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatj»ne Mii.ist ers' Association).

SAYING "THANK YOU"

The Rev. J. G. Pa to'n, the. famous missionary to the New Hebrides, whose sons and grandsons are Presbyterian ministers and missionaries of Australia to-day. tells how, on the island of Aniwa, there had long been little to eat., when a vessel arrived laden with food. At once he opened a cask of biscuits, and gave one to each child in the crowd of eager onlookers. To his surprise,

however, not one began to eat. "Why don't you eat?" he questioned. And the oldest one answered, "We will

first thank God for this food, and a.sk Him to bless it to us all."

MARGARET OF SCOTLAND

Most visitors to Scotland like to see what is said to be the oldest building in Edinburgh, a strange, little stone church which nestles beside the gfeat Edinburgh Castle. A few years ago there was special excitement in the city-, because Princess Margaret Rose was baptised in this little church, which has for centuries had the name of St. Margaret's. Chapel. The building has | stood there, we are told, since about , the year 1070 A.D. By its very presence it has been reminding the neighbourhood of the love of God. and a/so recalling the memory of the. good woman who is believed to have had the chapel built on that spot, Queen Margaret of Scotland, wife of King Malcolm Canmore. In an age when people were coarse and rough in their behaviour, and had little knowledge of Jesus, the queen had a real love, for her Saviour, and tried to live by His commands. Her character was marked by womanly gentleness, and yet independent strength. She had. regular habits of Bible study and prayer, and though the times were full of superstition, her faith was wonderfully free from this evil. Her love for Christ showed itself in her thoughtfulness for the poor and needy. She sewed garments for the poor, fed the hungry, and eared for the orphans.

Thus she set her family a fine example in Christian living. From her there- came a stream of Christian influence that filled her home and helped to lead her husband and children in the way of Jesus. The king was of a rash ami fiery nature, but she not influenced by him for evil, but rather stood firm, and changed him to good ways.. Bishop luigot, who was clergyman to the royai family, marvelled at the strength of her leadership, and said: "T confess that I was astonished at the miracle of God s mercy, when I per ccived in the king such a steady earnestness of devotion.'

When Turgot left for England, she farewelled him and said, "I have two requests to make. The one is that, as long as you live you will

remember me in your prayers;, the other, that you will take loving care of my sons and daughters, teaching them, above all else, to love and fear God and never ceasing to instruct them. When you sec any one of them exalted to a height of earthly dignity, be in a very special manner his father and teacher. Warn him, and, if need be, reprove him, lest his earthly honours lead

SAVED BY LOVE

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

NO WORD FOR LOVE

him to pride or covetousncss. and induce, him to sin against God, or lest, tills world's good things make him forget the happiness of the. world to come."'

A minister in Scotland has told about a young man in his district who surprised everybody by committing a very daring theft. He was sent to prison, but all the time lie was there. lie showed, not tlte slightest .sign of being sorry for what he had done. Ail sorts of people visited him and. tried to soften his heart, but nobody seemed to make any impression on him.

When he was discharged from the prison, he went to see the minister ■ —not beeause lie particularly wanted to sec him. but beeause he didn't like going home. I'or he. didn't, know what kind of reception lie would get. However,, the minister persuaded him to go home. He returned to the minister's house in the. evening, and lie was like a different man. He was asked what he had found when lie reached home. He said his mother had a huge breakfast waiting for him, a whole set of new clothes, and I the offer of a job on a new road that was being built. "What are von going to do now?"' the minister ask- j cd. "Well," he said, "if mother is like that ..." and he could say no more. When nothing e'.se could soften his heart, his mother's free forgiveness, and her love, which remained strong and true in .spite of his sin and disgrace, had. melted him. God's love for us is like that. We disappoint Him, and sin against Him, and so we bring shame and sorrow upon ourselves ami hurt God's great heart of love. But He never stops, loving us, and in the death of .lesus we see how far His love is ready to go to save us.

There arc plenty of aborigines in Australia who have nevei seen a white man. It may be hard to belicve that there are great numbers of them who have never seen boiling water. It's true, nevertheless. To get boiling water you need three thingswater, fire—and something to boll the water in. The aborigines have to metal vessels: and watci cannot be boiled in the bark baskets, which are. the only receptacles they have. But there is something else., much more important, which some oi them are without. There is a tribe which has no word for "love." Just think—no boy or girl in that tribe could ever say, "My mother loves me." And none of them could say, "Go:l loves me." They just haven't a word to express it. I think there cannot have: been much real love in } their lives, because, if these, people had. known much about love, they would soon have found a word for it. There is now a Christian missionary working among them, and b.v his life and teaching they are learning what love: really is—the love that Jesus showed when for

their sakes and ours He gave His life

on the cross, the love that He wants us to show for one -another. You remember He said,, "This is my commandment: that ye love one anotlv* er, as I have loved you."