The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-26
The Threshold Of Heaven.

It has been said that "Heaven lie
about US in our infancy" 1t lies abou
us more nearly than we dream, not on
ly in infancy but at all times, no mat
ter how many years we may nav
numbered, if only our eyes are open tt
see the blessed light that streams ou
from its portals.
Some years ago the precious child
dear friend was nearing the "valle.
of the shadow of DEATH" She hat
only seen eight brief summers, We
her little heart was so filled with th
love of Christ that her face, at times
was transfigured. There was an inne
light which shone through the deli
cate features, impressing all who saw
her with the fact that the Holy Spiri
had long been an abiding presence il
her soul.
AS the thread of her physical life be
came weaker and weaker, the spiritua
grew stronger and more vivid. Houl
bv hour one could see that the Apos
ties thought was being literally full
filled in her." Though our outward
man perish, our inner man is renewed
day by day."
Marjorie's father was a nominal
Christian, and her mother, although
she had been "church member" fol
some years, had not entered into that
fullness of spiritual life which enables
one to accept all trials as a proof OF
Gods love. But parents grieved open.
| ly over the fading life of their dar'
ling. This troubled the child's tender
heart. It was wonderful to see the
light in her eyes as she would say
"Why do you grieve, mamma? I'm
not dying: I'm ,,l only going to live al
the time with Jesus"
At another time she said to her 10
ther: -.
"You know that Jesus said to hi
disciples that he was going away tt
prepare place for them, that wher'
he was they might also come. He ha
got my place almost ready, papa
You wouldn't hold me back, woult
YOU, when he comes and tell
me he is ready and that I can 60 AM
live with him forever and ever"
Her father groaned. His love 70
this child amounted to idolatry.
Marjorie's little hand toyed with tn
locks on his bowed head as she whis
pered:
Papa, think one reason Jesu
wants me to 60 to him now is to ge
YOU and mamma to love him more
When l have gone to live with hin
you will be looking up to him all tn
time, for you will want to know abou
me, and he can tell YOU"
Later she said:
"When you love Jesus with ell you
heart you won't think much about m.
being gone. The light in his face will
lust fiji you all through, as it fills me
and you will be happy all the time"
Marjorie never spoke of God excep
as "Jesus." She rarely spoke O
heaven; it was always "living will
Jesus"
Her pain was borne with such forti
tude and sweetness as proved the pres
ence of divine power in her soul, evel
to the most carleess observer.
No one could think of her as dying
All were impressed with the fact tina
she was entering into such fullness o
life as the ordinary heart could no
conceive.
AS the last moment came, sh
looked up with such transtigurini
light mantling her face as hushed tn
sobs of her parents, and filled then
with new and adoring love for God
She WHISPERED:
"Jesus is here. I am ready-ready
Oh, Jesus, how beautiful you are"
Marjories failing asleep in Jesus
meant a new life for her father. H
had caught glimpse of heaven
glory through the open portals as hi
darling passed away, and life wa
never again the same.
The mothers heart was longer IL
accepting the sweet lesson God wa
trying to teach her. Yet in time, sh
too learned to "look up" as never he
fore, and as she did so the wonderful
love of Christ filled her soul, and sh
}, ripened into the happy Christian VIII
can say at all times: 81 fear no evil
my heart is fixed, trusting in th'
, Lord"
Whenever little child is calle
from the home circle, God opens tn
) portals of heaven and asks the mourn
; ing friends to step upon the threshold
that they may catch glimpse of tn
, glory that lies beyond, aud into Whic
, the precious young soul is entering.
! How we need to give ourselves 8
| fully and completely to Christ that hl
3 blessed touch may he upon our eyes
enabling us to see all the sweet lesson
| his love is unfolding to US in thes
= hours of trial.
How slowly we yield ourselves
/ his tender, wooing embrace! How W
r suffer, and resist, and strive with a
: our puny strength to carry. out ou
0 own wearisome plans, turning VIII
4 fully away from the gentle voice ths
t is ever saying to us: Take my yoB
upon you and learn of me, for l al
meek and lowly in heart, and ye sha
o find rest unto your souls"
Happy is that person who has full
= Yielded the heart to this gentle but al
O powerful Friend; who with surrel
e dered will and life opens the entire b
ing to the divine presence. Such
surrender means heaven begun
"Chrst in us."-Mrs. M. A. Hawkin