visited her nearly every day. Her rela-
tives live across the country, and Bessie
“I BROUGHT AUNT
had no other visitors. I brought her
BESSIE FRESH FLOWERS FROM MY
fresh flowers from my garden, statio-
nery, stamps, magazines, and anything
GARDEN, STATIONERY, STAMPS,
she requested, but the bonbons were
MAGAZINES, AND ANYTHING
my first real gift of love.
The usually scowling Bessie was
SHE REQUESTED, BUT THE
looking anxiously at the doorway
when I appeared breathlessly. She
BONBONS WERE MY FIRST
seemed uncommonly quiet and sub-
REAL GIFT OF LOVE.”
dued as I kissed her cheek and handed
her the box of candy. However, when
“Yet you always poured me coffee I took my little New Testament out
she opened the box—wrapped in
and made me feel welcome. I want you of my purse and showed her the way of
peppermint-striped paper with a red
to know I appreciate all that you’ve salvation from God’s Word.
bow on top—Bessie gasped. Tears of joy
done for me, and these bonbons are Later, when I returned home to tell
appeared in her eyes.
really the icing on the cake!” my family that Aunt Bessie was now a
“Well, mercy me, how did you
I replied, “Aunt Bessie, I haven’t babe in Christ, I thanked the Lord again
know I love bonbons? I’ve had such
really done much, and I did it all as for leading me to buy the box of bon-
a taste for them too. I didn’t want to
unto the Lord. I only wish you’d take bons. My gift of love had opened the
ask you to get them for me, though,
my Jesus as your Savior too. Then you’d way to show her God’s gift of love.
as I heard on the news that Ed’s plant
have a Friend who never forsakes you.”
might go on strike and you’ve done so
“Would you tell me how?” the Delores Bius is a writer who lives in
much for me already!”
elderly lady asked, taking my hand. Chicago, Illinois.
Bessie continued: “You know, I
think it’s time I told you a few things.
I’ve had plenty of time to think while
I’ve been recuperating and am starting
THE KEYS TO ETERNAL LIFE
to get a new outlook on life. I know I
have a sharp tongue and have seen the
CHRIST PAID for our salvation with His death on the cross, but for us to accept
tears in your eyes at times when I criti-
this gift is as simple as using these keys to unlock the door:
cized you. Yet you never once told me
I was a doddering old fool and to mind
Acknowledge you have sinned
my own business. Also, while I’ve been
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth
in the hospital, you were the only one
is not in us” (1 John 1:8).* “For all have sinned and fall short of the
of my neighbors to visit me. Oh, yes,
glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
the whole block took up a collection
and sent me flowers, but none of them
Believe in Jesus
took the time to visit or even phone. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “For
“Then this morning I called Joan
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who-
and asked her to visit me, but she was
ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
‘too busy.’ Tish tosh. She was prob-
ably polishing her floors or washing Confess and renounce your sin
her windows for the seventh time this “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your
week. That young woman is house- heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans
proud. She never once asked me to
10:9). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us
have a cup of coffee at her house. And
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
if I sat on the sofa, she smoothed out *Scriptures are from the New International Version.
the cushions before I was out the door.
EVANGEL • FEB 2010 25
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