A Mother's Vision of Her Son's Future and Divine Answer to Prayer

“Last night as the evening shadows fell upon our desolate home, I knelt once more to intercede with The Giver of All Good for the life of my child. I was so exhausted through the loss of sleep, and want of food, that while in the very act of prayer I fell asleep. I dreamed that I saw my boy grow to manhood, a bright, handsome, attractive young man. And then, oh heaven, how horrible! He took to drink. He became a drunkard like his father ; a blight on the community ; an outcast to society ; a curse among men. So vivid was the picture, and so great the agony of my soul. that I awoke with a scream. I saw again in the dim twilight on that bed of straw the dying form of my boy, wasted by the ravages of the fever, his face half concealed by his tasseled golden hair. I could read on that now pale face, and knew in my heart, that as he then Avas he would be acceptable to the Master who once said: 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' So I must yield to that higher power, to that diviner law; must sacrifice my mother love ; must give to God my great earthly joy, my only joy, to be saved the more terrible sorrow, and to avoid the consequences of the wreck of another human soul. Once again I knelt and prayed: 'Oh, Father, thon that doest all things well, comfort thon me. Heal up my broken heart. Give me strength to bear my affliction. Take thon my child, my only child; that he may never know the evils that await him in this world.' My prayer is answered. My boy is dead. — Millennial Star 83:36”