Soldiers of the Great King
by Mary Wingfield Bell

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Chapter 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6
Chapter 7	Chapter 8	Chapter 9	Chapter 10	Chapter 11	Chapter 12

CHAPTER 5

 

It was Sunday night.  Janet and her mother walked in the cold dark night to the

Methodist Church.  When Janet entered the building, she noticed that there were

 visitors present.  Richard Dingle and a friend from the Baptist Church were sitting

near the back of the church.  She smiled at Richard and he smiled back.

 

After the usual song service Brother Trent said, “I see we have visitors tonight.  We welcome you boys.  Would either of you like to say something?”

 

Richard stood up, “Yes, sir,” he began.  “I always want to talk about the good Lord and what he did for me.  I was in a poor condition.  My foot hurt ever so bad, I thought it would kill me.  Then a group of children came along.  A boy prayed for me and I was healed.  See, I am fine now.  I just keep thanking the Lord Jesus for healing me.  He is a wonderful healer and a great king.  He is a might great king.”

 

Several amens came from the men of the church.  Richard knew that people in the church approved of him.

 

On the way home from church that night, Janet was talking with her mother.  “Manie, do you remember when I started telling the bible stories?”

 

“Of course I remember, dear,” replied the woman.

 

“Look at all the things that have happened since I first began telling bible stories.”

 

“Lots of good things happened,” said Manie.

 

“Isn’t King Jesus good to me?” said Janet.

 

”Yes, but I think Jesus is good to all who live for him,” said her mother.

 

“I just think Jesus does extra nice things for the children who love him,” said Janet.

 

“It’s good that you think that way, dear.”

 

“I don’t just believe he does nice things for me.  I know he is the great king.”

 

“Always think of Jesus as the greatest king.  He will never let you down.”

 

“Yes, I know he will help when I need help,” said Janet.  “Let’s have hot chocolate when we get home.”

 

“We could use something hot,” agreed her mother.

 

Soon the two were sitting at the table in the kitchen talking about things that happened during the day.

 

Suddenly they heard a knock on the door.  It wasn’t a loud knock, only quick taps.

 

“It can’t be Trilby,” said Janet.  “He makes more noise.”

 

“I’ll soon know who has come on this cold night,” said Mrs. Cubber.

 

Opening the door, Manie was surprised.  There stood a lady in a thin short-sleeve dress and two little children.

 

“Can we come in?” she asked tearfully.

 

“Sure, dear,” said Manie.  “Your babies must be cold.”

 

The lady and children entered the kitchen.

 

“My name is Lettie Mall.  These are my children.  This is Jim Bob.  He is three.  This is Launa.  She is 4½. 

 

“My name is Manie and this is my daughter Janet,” said Mrs. Cubber.

 

“Mama, ain’t it warm in here?” said Launa.  “It is nice to be in a warm house.”

 

“We don’t have heat in our house,” said the woman.  “Tonight is so cold.  I want to find a good place for my children to sleep.”

 

“Dear, look no farther,” said Manie.  “I will see that your children are warm.  Don’t you folks have a sweater or coat?”

 

“No Ma’am,” answered Lettie Mall.  “They got burned up in a fire.”

 

“I have an idea,” said Manie.  “I have an old blue blanket that is worn in the center.  I have wanted to make something useful from the four corners.  I will make blanket sweaters.”

 

“Lettie, will you stir this cocoa and Janet set out three more cups,” said Mrs. Cubber.  “I am going to sew blanket sweaters.”

 

Manie went to find the blanket.  She cut the blanket in two pieces.  Then she folded a piece and measured it to the length of Jim Bob’s arms.  She now knew how long to make the sleeves.  She then cut the blanket the size for the sleeves.  She measured the child’s waist.  Soon Mrs. Cubber had made a blanket sweater.

 

“Manie, how come you are sewing on Sunday?” asked Janet.  “You never did that before.  You always said there were days in the week for sewing.”

 

“So I did,” replied her mother.  “But when the ox is in the ditch, you pull him out even on Sunday.  What I am doing is necessary, dear.”

 

“Oh, I understand,” said Janet.  “You want the children to be warm.”

 

“Yes, dear,” returned her mother.  “Don’t you think God wants all of his children to have sweaters?”

 

“I see, you are helping God.”

 

“You could say that.”

 

Launa looked at Jim Bob’s sweater, wanting so much to have a blanket sweater of her own.

 

“You are next, Launa,” said Mrs. Cubber.  “Hold out your arm so I can see how long to make your sleeves.” 

 

“I want a sweater,” said Launa.  “It is so cold outside.”

 

“Go drink some hot cocoa,” said Janet’s mother.  “Soon you will have a warm sweater.”

 

“You are a good woman,” said the child.  “You let us come in to get warm.”

 

A tear fell on Manie’s cheek as she turned to sew the much needed sweater.

 

When the sweater had been made, Launa was the happy one.  She skipped about the house.  “Now my arms are warm,” she said.

 

Manie was happy, too.  To see the little girl happy brought joy to the woman’s heart.  It truly is blessed to give, she thought, even if it is an old blue blanket, but the sweater looks nice.

 

“How clever of you to think of making sweaters from the blanket,” said Lettie.

 

“I am just being a good servant for the king.  Anything good I do is because I want to please King Jesus.  He is good to me.  My neighbors, the McKinneys, are always doing nice things for me.  That is because they love Jesus, too.

 

“I don’t know much about this King Jesus, but I really want to know him.  I want to be happy.  I have been unhappy since my husband went to prison.

 

“ Why did he have to go to prison?”

 

“For stealing,” said Lettie.  “We were all so hungry.  Jim pushed his chair away from the table that had only one piece of cornbread on the plate and he left the house.  He stole a gallon of molasses and a peck of potatoes.  The sheriff caught him with the food.  He is serving time now.  I get a $4.00 check every two weeks from the Relief Agency.  It don’t go far but I manage to feed my babies.”

 

“Lettie, you can know Jesus.  All you have to do is pray this prayer with me.  ‘Lord Jesus, come into my heart and forgive me of all my sins.  I will live for you the rest of my life.’”

 

Lettie prayed with Mrs. Cubber and instantly she became a different person.  She was truly happy.

 

“I must go see Jim and tell him about Jesus,” said Lettie.

 

“Mama, you look different,” said Launa.  “What happened?”

 

“Something wonderful, Sweetie,” said Lettie.  “King Jesus now lives in my heart.”

 

“I’m glad,” said Launa.  “I want Jesus in my heart, too.”

 

“Janet, tell Launa how to have Jesus in her heart,” said Manie.

 

Janet took Launa by the hand.  “Let’s go into my bedroom,” she said.  “Launa, all you have to do to have Jesus in your heart is to pray with me.  Say what I say.  He will be there.  ‘Lord Jesus forgive my sin.’”

 

“What is sin?” asked Launa.

 

“When you do something bad like grab Jim Bob’s crayon.”

 

“Oh, I see,” said Launa.  “Jesus forgive my sins and come into my heart.  Am I supposed to feel good?  I do.  I am very happy.”

 

That’s because King Jesus has come into your heart,” said Janet.

 

“King Jesus now lives in my heart,” said Launa.

 

Janet’s mother finished the sweater she was sewing for Lettie.

 

“Thanks so much,” said the visitor.  “It is so comfortable and warm.  Thanks most of all for helping me to have Jesus living inside me.  I know he will help me when I need help.  I will help my Jim to know the great king.  Everyone needs to know Jesus.”

 

“You are so right,” said Mrs. Cubber.  “It is getting very late.  The little ones need to be in bed.”

 

“Do you have a flashlight?” asked Lettie.

 

“Dear, don’t take the children out in the cold weather,” said Manie.  “Here, take this little chamber pot for your babies.”

 

“I am not a baby,” said Launa.  “I now know Jesus.”

 

“No, Launa, you are not a baby,” agreed Mrs. Cubber.  “I made a mistake.”

 

Manie made sure all were comfortable for the night and then she went to bed.  Everyone in the house slept well.

 

At 7:30 A.M. Maria came, ready to walk to school with Janet.  She was surprised to see the visitors at Janet’s house.  Janet told her the whole story about the children not having a coat or sweater and how her mother made sweaters for the woman and children.

 

“Your mother is a kind woman,” said Maria.  She could have just let them be cold.  Your mother is the kind of woman I want to be like.  I want to help people who need help.  That is the way I will serve the great king.”

 

“Aren’t you glad that King Jesus is kind,” said Janet.  “He wouldn’t be my king if he were mean.  We don’t need to worry.  King Jesus is the greatest, most powerful king of all.  The best thing is that Jesus loves each of us and we can tell him anything.  He will show us what to do when we have a problem.  I get happy when I think of him.”

 

“Say, did you remember to bring your homework?”

 

“It’s here in my book bag.”

 

“See you at lunch break,” said Maria as they reached the school ground.

 

The girls were ready to begin another week at school.  While at home, Mrs. Cubber was making pancakes for her visitors.

 

“Manie, you are so nice to us and I would like to ask of you one more favor,” said Lettie.

 

“What is that, dear?”

 

“This Thursday I want to take a bus to Benson to see Jim.  I want to tell him about my accepting Jesus and ask him to do the same.  I think we both will be happier and the king will help us.”

 

“How can I help you?” asked Manie.

 

“Someone needs to watch my children.  I can’t take them on the prison ground,” said Lettie.

 

“I’ll be happy to watch Launa and Jim Bob.”

 

”Good,” said Lettie.  “I’m anxious to talk with Jim.”