"My mother," said Tom. "Yes; I know she does."
"No, I did not mean your mother; I meant your Saviour. It says, 'He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.'"
Tom moved restlessly away. "I have heard that so often," he said pettishly.
"Perhaps you have; but if you had ever felt it, you would know it is worth thinking about. But I was going to tell you how I came to know it.
"I was very ill, Tom. God had taken away from me what I prized more than my life, or anything else in the world; and, like you, I thought I had nothing left to care about or make me happy. One day, as I lay moaning on my bed, the Lord Jesus seemed to come and take His stand just by my side. I turned my head that way, and I seemed to feel Him there as plainly as you can feel me, Tom, now, if you shut your eyes. You know I am here, and I knew He was there.
"In my desolation, and misery, and pain, I felt sure He had something to say to me. Oh, Tom, how I listened! At first my heart beat too loudly for me to hear; but after a minute or two, the sweetness of His presence made everything else grow dim. Then He seemed to speak to me:
"'I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.'
"I listened till the words seemed to cease, and then there was deep silence. Still He stood by me for a long time, and I could feel that He was holding me, as He said, by my right hand, and was helping me.
"Then I said, 'Blessed Saviour, Thou hast loved me so much I will do Thy will, whatever it is! I leave it all to Thee!'
"Tom, dear, I gave it all up; yes, willingly. He had loved me, He had given Himself for me; could I do less? And from that moment I have never been so sad or so desolate any more."