Mothers
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your mother. I have invested twenty-five dollars for clothing because
your mother needed it. I have ordered wood for the winter because
last winter I learned she lay abed hours in the daytime to save burning
wood. The little money she has on hand, she is reluctant to use,
thinking she might be sick for some time like her mother, and she
dreads becoming a pauper. I cannot blame her for this, for judging
from the past, she may feel she cannot depend at all on her children.
Your mother has been very economical. I shall not leave her to
suffer if you do nothing; but if you feel conscience clear in this matter,
if you wish your record to stand in the judgment in the future as it has
in the past in regard to your poor old mother, I cannot help it. But God
marks this unfeeling neglect.
God holds her children accountable for this neglected duty. I am
sorry, so sorry, that the matter stands thus.
Christ will judge every man according to his works. He identifies
His interest with His suffering, neglected children. He says to one
class, “I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and
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ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked,
and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not....
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” The
terrible word “Depart” is spoken.
To those on His right hand He says, “I was an hungered, and ye
gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye
visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” The question is
asked, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty,
and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?
or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison,
and came unto thee?” He said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Thus
that which is done to His needy brethren Christ accounts as done unto
Himself.—
Letter 30, 1884
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