DON'T FORGET YOUR LANTERN

As my husband and I were reading The Bible together this morning I thought - how very important it is to start the day out in The Word. How many times would I have lost my way had it not been for scripture that I memorized as a young Christian. 1Peter2:2 "Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

I found this old story that I had saved and thought how true! We, as Christian's, will lose our way in this confused, troubled world without our road map, the BIBLE. The Psalmist said it is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path.

DONT FORGET YOUR LANTERN

"It will be quite dark before you return, Charley, don't forget your lantern," said a mother to her son, who was going to spend his half holiday at a farm about two miles distant.

"I'm not afraid of the dark and I know my way well enough," he muttered. "No, I shan't take the stupid old lantern; it will only be in the way."

Off he went and spent a merry afternoon with his companions, never thinking of his mother's words or troubling about his journey home. It was quite dark when he said goodbye to his friends at the farm, and as there was no moon, the night was very dark, so they kindly offered to lend him a lantern. But he was too proud to accept it after boasting to his mother that he knew his way so well, and he declared loudly than ever that he knew his way blindfolded, and would be halfway home before the lantern was lighted.

He ran down the path, along the road and across the field. In the corner of the field was a broken stile which had to be crossed in order to enter the road. Part of the stile had rotted away, but the long nail which had fastened it still remained. Catching Charley's jacket as he climbed the stile, it tripped him and threw him suddenly into a bed of stinging nettles in the dry ditch beyond.

Bruised and smarting and mortified, he crept out of the ditch and began to make his way through the woods. There were several paths. But the widest and most frequented was his nearest way.

Perhaps it was the pain he was suffering or the annoyance he felt which caused him to forget to take the turning on the right. After walking a short distance he found the bushes were close to him on either side, and he felt sure that he had strayed into one of the narrow pathways which crossed the wood in every direction. How he longed for his lantern! He had no idea which way to go, but wandered on and on until he grew tired and footsore.

At last he came to a more open space and thinking he had reached the road, he pressed boldly on. But he found the ground gave way beneath and in another moment he was struggling in the water. There was a large pool in the midst of the wood and into this he had fallen. Happily it was not very deep and groping about for something to which he could cling he seized hold of a tough bough and by its aid managed to scramble out of the water into the pathway.

Some minutes later, bruised and bleeding, with clothes torn and stained with mud and weeds and soaked with water,, he reached the gate of his own home where all the family were assembled, wondering what had become of him.

"Mother," said the miserable pentitent boy, "Iv'e been foolish; but I will never go without the lantern again."

Four years passed and Charley, now a fine, tall lad, stood again by the gate saying farewell to his mother, not for a few hours but for months - perhaps years.

"Don't forget your lantern, my boy," she said as she placed into his hands a small Bible.

"Let God's Word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.'Whenever you are in doubt as to the way you should take let the light of this Book shine upon your path and the way will be plain."