“Could ye not watch with Me one hour?” (Matt. xxvi. 40.)
A young lady whose parents had died while she was an infant, had been
kindly cared for by a dear friend of the family. Before she was old enough
to know him, he went to Europe. Regularly he wrote to her through all his
years of absence, and never failed to send her money for all her wants.
Finally word came that during a certain week he would return and visit
her. He did not fix the day or the hour. She received several invitations
to take pleasant trips with her friends during that week. One of these was
of so pleasant a nature that she could not resist accepting it. During her
trip, he came, inquired as to her absence, and left. Returning she found
this note: “My life has been a struggle for you, might you not have waited
one week for me?” More she never heard, and her life of plenty became one
of want. Jesus has not fixed the day or hour of His return, but He has
said, “Watch,” and should He come to-day, would He find us absorbed in
thoughtless dissipation? May we be found each day, in the expectant
attitude of those watching for a loved one.