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經文：「向來你們沒有奉我的名求什麼，如今你們求就必得著，叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。」（約16：24） 曾經在美國南北內戰時期，有一位銀行家的獨生子加入聯邦方陣營參戰，他雖然同意兒子參軍，但父子分離總還是令他非常不捨。 因此他開始格外關心那些年輕的軍人，每當看到穿著軍服的青年，他就會因爲思念愛子而內心激動不已。漸漸地，他魂不守舍，怠於事業，把金錢用來照顧回鄉的傷殘軍人。他的親友們勸誡他不應該荒廢事業，不應該爲他們花費那麽多的心思。於是他聽了勸諫，決心改變作法。 當他如此決定之後，某日，有位士兵走進銀行，身上的軍服破舊不堪，臉和手上都有醫治過的傷痕。 那可憐的士兵手忙腳亂地想從口袋裏掏出什麽東西來，銀行家看見了，就猜想他的目的，對他說：「孩子，今天我實在忙不過來，沒有辦法接待你。你應該到你們的司令部去，那裡會有專人照顧你。」 那個士兵依舊站著不動，好像不大明白他的意思，也繼續摸索著口袋。不久他掏出一張肮髒的字條，上面有幾行鉛筆字。他把這張污穢的字條放在銀行家的面前，上面寫的是：「親愛的父親，這是我的戰友之一，他在上次戰役中負傷，進過醫院，請你接待他像接待我一樣。查理。」 銀行家頓時打消原本決定漠視的態度，他將那位青年帶到富麗的家中，讓他住在兒子本來的房間，坐在兒子常坐的位置用餐，藉著飲食、休息和愛護來接待，直到青年恢復了健康後，再送他回到前方爲國效命。 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). During the Civil War, a man had an only son who enlisted in the armies of the Union. The father was a banker and, although he consented to his son's going, it seemed as if it would break his heart to let him go. He became deeply interested in the soldier boys, and whenever he saw a uniform, his heart went out as he thought of his own dear boy. He spent his time, neglected his business, gave his money to caring for the soldiers who came home invalid. His friends remonstrated with him, saying he had no right to neglect his business and spend so much thought upon the soldiers, so he fully decided to give it all up. After he had come to this decision, there stepped into his bank one day a private soldier in a faded, worn uniform, who showed in his face and hands the marks of the hospital. The poor fellow was fumbling in his pocket to get something or other, when the banker saw him and, perceiving his purpose, said to him: "My dear fellow, I cannot do anything for you today. I am extremely busy. You will have to go to your headquarters; the officers there will look after you." Still the poor convalescent stood, not seeming to fully understand what was said to him. Still he fumbled in his pockets and, by and by, drew out a scrap of dirty paper, on which there were a few lines written with a pencil, and laid this soiled sheet before the banker. On it he found these words: "Dear Father: "This is one of my comrades who was wounded in the last fight, and has been in the hospital. Please receive him as myself. --Charlie." In a moment all the resolutions of indifference which this man made, flew away. He took the boy to his palatial home, put him in Charlie's room, gave him Charlie's seat at the table, kept him until food and rest and love had brought him back to health, and then sent him back again to imperil his life for the flag. --Selected ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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