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經文：「凡你們禱告祈求的，無論是甚麼，只要信是得著的，就必得著。」（可11:24） 我有一個十歲的孩子，他的祖母承諾給他一本郵票簿。但是過了很久卻還沒有給他，也沒有再提起。孩子似乎也不會在意，只是每當其他同伴來看他的禮物時，他除了將禮物一件件地展示之外，總會加上一句：「祖母有給我一本郵票簿。」 我聽他說了好幾次，就覺得很希奇！就特地叫他到我面前來問說：「孩子，你並沒有從祖母那裡得到一本郵票簿，為甚麼要對朋友們這樣說呢？」他臉上起了詫異之色，似乎很奇怪我會問這樣的問題。他回答說：「媽媽，祖母既然有承諾，就等於我已經得著了呀。」之後我也就不再說些甚麼，免得影響他的信心。 一個月過後，郵票簿還是沒有着落。某日我想試試他的信心，就對他說：「孩子，我想組母已經忘了她的應許。」而他快速又堅定地說：「不，媽媽，她對絕不會忘記的！」我望著那可愛又充滿信心的小臉，正露出一本正經的模樣，似乎要辯論我剛剛說的話那般。 過了一會兒，他臉上露出喜悅的神采說道：「媽媽，您想我好不好現在寫封信去謝謝她的禮物呢？」我說：「我不會規定你，但是你可以試試看。」這時候上帝光照我，讓我看見一段豐富的屬靈眞理。幾分鐘之後他把感謝函寫好，就出門寄信。回家時嘴裡還哼著歡快的歌曲，顯現出他對祖母的信任。 不久後收到回信，內容寫著：「親愛的喬琪：我並沒有忘記對你承諾的郵票簿。我想按照你喜歡的樣式去買，可是在本地買不到；所以就到紐約市函購。收到後一看仍舊不對，所以又到芝加哥去函購了。愛你的祖母」 他讀完了信，臉上帶著勝利的氣慨，對我說：「媽媽，我不是告訴過您麼？祖母既然承諾了，就等於我已經得著了。」他的心裡從來沒有疑惑過，這就是「在無可指望的時候，因信仍有指望。」（羅4:18）他深信一定會得到郵票簿，他相信祖母一定正在預備，不久後信心就真的變成了事實。 通常人們對於神的應許，總需要先眼見為憑。但是主耶穌如何對多馬說，照樣對那些跟從卻仍舊懷疑的人說：「那沒有看見就信的，有福了。」（約20:29）--讓滋夫人 Mrs. Rounds 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be" (Mark 11:24). When my little son was about ten years of age, his grandmother promised him a stamp album for Christmas. Christmas came, but no stamp album, and no word from grandmother. The matter, however, was not mentioned; but when his playmates came to see his Christmas presents, I was astonished, after he had named over this and that as gifts received, to hear him add, "And a stamp album from grandmother." I had heard it several times, when I called him to me, and said, "But, Georgie, you did not get an album from your grandmother. Why do you say so?" There was a wondering look on his face, as if he thought it strange that I should ask such a question, and he replied, "Well, mamma, grandma said, so it is the same as." I could not say a word to check his faith. A month went by, and nothing was heard from the album. Finally, one day, I said, to test his faith, and really wondering in my heart why the album had not been sent, "Well, Georgie, I think grandma has forgotten her promise." "Oh, no, mamma," he quickly and firmly said, "she hasn't." I watched the dear, trusting face, which, for a while, looked very sober, as if debating the possibilities I had suggested. Finally a bright light passed over it, and he said, "Mamma, do you think it would do any good if I should write to her thanking her for the album?" "I do not know," I said, "but you might try it." A rich spiritual truth began to dawn upon me. In a few minutes a letter was prepared and committed to the mail, and he went off whistling his confidence in his grandma. In just a short time a letter came, saying: "My dear Georgie: I have not forgotten my promise to you, of an album. I tried to get such a book as you desired, but could not get the sort you wanted; so I sent on to New York. It did not get here till after Christmas, and it was still not right, so I sent for another, and as it has not come as yet, I send you three dollars to get one in Chicago. Your loving grandma." "As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. "Now, mamma, didn't I tell you?" came from the depths of a heart that never doubted, that, "against hope, believed in hope" that the stamp album would come. While he was trusting, grandma was working, and in due season faith became sight. It is so human to want sight when we step out on the promises of God, but our Savior said to Thomas, and to the long roll of doubters who have ever since followed him: "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed." --Mrs. Rounds ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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