Many years ago, when in my country charge, I returned one afternoon from a funeral, fatigued with the day’s work. After a long ride, I had accompanied the mourners to the churchyard. As I neared my stable door, I felt a strange prompting to visit a poor widow, who, with her invalid daughter, lived in a lonely cottage in an outlying part of the parish.
My natural reluctance to make another visit was overcome by a feeling I could not resist, and I turned my horse’s head toward the cottage. I was thinking only of the poor widow’s spiritual needs; but when I reached her little house, I was struck with its look of unwonted barrenness and poverty. After putting a little money into her hand, I began to inquire into their circumstances and found that. their supplies had been utterly exhausted since the night before. I asked them what they had done.
“I just spread it before the Lord!” “Did you tell your case to any friend?” “Oh no, sir; naebody kens but Himsel' and me! I kent He would not forget; but I didna ken hoo. He wad help me, till I seen you come riding over the brae, and then I said: “There’s the Lord’s answer!”
Many a time has the recollection of this incident encouraged me to trust in the loving care of my heavenly Father.
- New Testament Anecdotes
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer - 1893