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Light in the Shadows, June 15
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according
to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly
nor grieve the children of men.
Lamentations 3:32, 33
.
When my eldest son was sixteen years old, he was stricken down in
sickness. [
Mrs. White’s personal experience with sorrow is presented
here for the encouragement of all who must suffer the loss of dear
ones.—Compilers.
] His case was considered critical, and he called us
to his bedside, and said, “Father, Mother, it will be hard for you to part
with your eldest son. If the Lord sees fit to spare my life, for your sake I
will be pleased. If it is for my good and His name’s glory for my life
to close now, I will say, It is well with my soul. Father, go by yourself,
and Mother, go by yourself; and pray. Then you will receive an answer
according to the will of my Saviour, whom you love and I love.” He was
afraid that if we should bow together, our sympathies would strengthen,
and we would ask for that which it would not be best for the Lord to
grant.... We received no evidence that our son would recover. He died,
putting his full trust in Jesus our Saviour. His death was a great blow to
us, but it was a victory even in death; for his life was hid with Christ in
God.
Before the death of my eldest boy, my babe was sick unto death. We
prayed, and thought that the Lord would spare us our darling; but we
closed his eyes in death, and laid him away to rest in Jesus, until the
Life-giver shall come to awaken His precious loved ones to a glorious
immortality.
Then my husband, the faithful servant of Jesus Christ, who had stood
by my side for thirty-six years, was taken from me, and I was left to
labor alone. He sleeps in Jesus. I have no tears to shed over his grave.
But how I miss him! ...
The Lord has often instructed me that many little ones are to be laid
away before the time of trouble. We shall see our children again. We
shall meet them and know them in the heavenly courts. Put your trust in
the Lord, and be not afraid.
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