A Poor Old Woman

By Harold Smith

There once lived an old lady in the city, and she thought she had a great treasure in her old age. She was very poor, and while her husband lived, he worked hard, but was only able to make enough to feem them. She had no children and when he died she was left sick and in great need. She was forced to sell what little she had and she moved into a small room at the top of an apartment house to finish her days. She didn't know much about the Lord and she was just looking for what she could get out of this life, like so many other people. One day, she was looking at the ceiling of her room and there was a big beam there, and she noticed a little square hole, and that it had been patched. She thought, "Maybe some rich man has hidden his treasure in there and has died". So hurredly, she got a screwdriver and she pried the patch open, and she thought, "Maybe there's something in there". Sure enough, there was a recessed place and she looked in there and found an old book, and old, damp, dirty, moldy book. Oh, she was so disappointed! Then she thought, "Maybe there's something in the book, maybe he's left his money in the book". So she opened up the book, but there was nothing hidden between the pages. She was very disappointed, and she thought, "I'll put the book away again". Then she thought, "I wonder what the book is?" So she wiped the dust off and began to read. This is what she read: "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" - Matthew 6:25-26. Then it went on to say, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33. She was looking for a treasure and she had found this Bible. She read the Bible and she came to know the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior. The greatest treasure she could ever find she found hidden in that beam. Through reading the Bible, her heart was filled with joy. Sadness was gone and she spent the rest of her days rejoicing in the knowledge that her sins were forgiven and Heaven was her home, and she was happy. You know, boys, and girls, you may have a book on your shelf, too, that's not used much. Oh, that you might take it down and read it! It'll make you happy. It'll do good things for you. The prophet said: "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16. Do read your Bible, and trust the Savior. Do it today, and be saved!