“Perhaps so,” I said. “Yet we must look forward, and try to arrange things.”
“O yes, of course,” Cherry said, smiling. “And of course it wouldn’t be right for us to spend money carelessly on anything we like. I think I should be quite wrong to have a new jacket just now, because there really is no extra money to spare. But that is different from being anxious and fretted.”
“I am both, this evening,” I said.
“Yes; about Maimie,” said Cherry. “But, mother dear,—if God has given us Maimie to take care of for a little while, won’t He give us food for her too? The Bible says 'all these things,’ mother,—and 'shall be added.’ That seems strong enough. And there is that other verse too about 'all your need.’ I am sure food is one need.”
I could not help stroking Cherry’s soft smooth hair. She had always been such a good loving child to me. But generally we were reserved, and said little on such subjects. It is often so with a mother and daughter,—I do not quite know why. This new pressure, however, seemed to have broken down the barrier for once.
I repeated the words,—“'All your need,’” only half thinking what I was saying.
“It is in Philippians, mother,” Cherry said, flushing, and looking almost pretty. “You know it, don’t you? 'My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.’”
“I have always supposed that to mean spiritual needs,” I said.
“But, mother,” Cherry said wistfully,—“But, mother dear,—of course we have those needs too,—but I don’t see that spiritual needs are our only needs. Because we do really need food and dress as well. And the words are—'all your need.’”
The simple common-sense of my child’s words struck home to me.