1334. Home, and Its Remembrances

Home, and Its Remembrances

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also" (2Ti_1:5).

We want to say a word about the home of our childhood after we have left it forever.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy that he called to remembrance the unfeigned faith that dwelt first, in his Grandmother Lois, and then in his Mother Eunice. Paul remembered, and he wanted to put Timothy in remembrance of this very thing, in order that he might stir up the gift of God which was in him.

1. The Christian home presents a strong call to holy living. The boy or girl who has been brought up in a truly Christian home can never get away from it. God has said, "Bring up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart away from it."

We heard a great Southern preacher, Dr. J. B. Gambrel say that he could never get away from his mother's prayers.

We heard of a young college student, who had started off with some other boys in quest of riotous living. As he passed along the way he heard the town clock strike nine. He remembered that his mother had said, to him as she told him good-by: "Every night at nine, I will be on my knees praying for you." Do you wonder that the young man halted as he heard the clock and counted the hours? He said: "Boys, I can not go with you." The fact was this, he could not get away from his mother's prayers.

2. A call to Heaven, our eternal home. There's a song which is quite widely known. The chorus begins, "Tell mother I'll be there." Somehow or other when death has broken up the home, and father or mother have gone on before, their faithful Christian lives will be forever calling us to God.

A young lad from the tenements, had buried his mother. A few days later the sexton of the graveyard saw the little lad bring a broken tomb stone, which he had somewhere bought for a song. He placed it by his mother's grave. Each day with hammer and chisel he worked on the broken shaft. This is what he put upon it.

'SHEE DIED LAST WEEK

SHEE WUS ALL I HAD. SHE

SED SHEED BEE WAITING FOR– The sexton missed him for a while and finally found him sick. The boy looked into his face and said, "I didn't get it done, but she'll know I meant to finish it, I'll tell her so when I see her. She said she would be waiting for me."

Where is there one whose father or mother has gone on before, who does not feel the pulling of the heart strings, upon every remembrance of home?

Sometimes we go back to the old homestead and as we rummage around there comes back to us the remembrances of the old days.

As I wandered 'round the homestead,

Many a dear familiar spot

Brought within my recollection

Scenes I'd seemingly forgot;

There, the orchard–meadow, yonder–

Here, the deep, old-fashioned well,

With its old, moss-covered bucket,

Sent a thrill no tongue can tell.

Prayer is over: to my pillow

With a "good-night!" kiss I creep,

Scarcely waking while I whisper,

"Now I lay me down to sleep."

Then my mother, o'er me bending,

Prays in earnest words, but mild:

"Here my prayer, O Heavenly Father,

Bless, oh, bless my precious child!"

Yet I am but only dreaming:

Ne'er I'll be a child again;

Many years has that dear mother

In the quiet churchyard lain;

But the mem'ry of her counsels

O'er my path a light has shed,

Daily calling me to Heaven,

Even from my trundle-bed.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR