No Greater Love
This is a true story. (Names have been changed.)
Mr Harrington was the richest gold miner in the entire of South Africa, and it came very much unexpected to the rest of his subordinates and co-workers when he announced his decision to adopt children from the nearby villages.
"Children are of no use, Sir! They do nothing, they live off your money, they're extra mouths to feed, and then... and then... when they grow up, and you're old, they leave you. Why would you want to adopt children?"
But Mr. Harrington was a man of few words and he said nothing, not even to his only son who pressed him, hard. He did not understand his father's intentions, but he knew his father's heart that always went out to the poor.
The day finally came, and Mr. Harrington adopted no less than FIVE children from the orphanage, 3 girls and 2 boys. They were uneducated children of varying ages, small, olive-skinned and malnourished. No one could understand how Mr. Harrington came to love them almost as much, if not more than his own boy, for the children were never grateful.
They never learnt how to speak; and retained their savage ways, hooting and staring at passers-by with their large eyes, wide and fearful. One could have said they were almost afraid, they did not know what love was, and now it was showered on them, they did not know how to react to it.
The children got into trouble so often that Mr. Harrington, a respectable man, was often seen at the county police station apologizing profusely for the misdeeds of his children. And yet, he never disciplined them harshly, he sat them down and talked to them... But the children never learned.
"To love the children to such an extent, one would think that he was foolish and desperate!" the villagers whispered among themselves, but Mr. Harrington paid no heed to the advice of the rest that the children would one day betray and desert him.
"I love them, and they are my children." That was the only reply they could get from him.
The day came, the day finally came, that the villagers' predictions came true. All five children broke loose, and created a hell in the entire county, plundering all the houses, injuring people. Even after years of being shown love and the tenderest compassion, they were still hard-hearted savages. Mr. Harrington was heart-broken, but he still refused to comment. It was evident he was deeply grieved...
After nearly a week, the adopted terrors were caught. The verdict was such that they should be stoned to death, and Mr. Harrington was there at the hearing. He was silent, deep in thought, and when the sentence was pronounced, he walked up to the judge's seat, and said the most unbelievable thing.
"Your Honour, would you give these children back to me, if I gave you my son, my one and only son? You can take him to be stoned instead."
The boy looked at his father with shock and disbelief, but the father kept his steadfast on the judge. "My father, why have you abandoned me?" The boy was crying now, and Mr. Harrington's eyes were filled with tears, but he was looking only at the 5 piteous children standing in the farthest corner.
"Why would you want to do this, Mr. Harrington?" The judge was nearly speechless, as was the entire courtroom. "They're worthless little savages, they won't know how to appreciate the love you've shown them, and they're only gonna betray you again, and hurt you. They will never understand."
"I love them, and they are my children." Mr. Harrington replied quietly, and it was all he would give for an answer.
"Fine, so be it." The judge rapped his gavel decisively, and the boy was brought out to be stoned by the villagers. His father stood at a distance, his face averted, but his heart evidently torn apart by just the sight of his only heir being stoned to death.
"Daddy! Daddy! Why are you doing this to me?" the boy cried out again and again, as the stones pelted on him. He sank weakly to his knees, and breathed his last.
"My child, I'm doing this, so they might live. They are the reason that you have to suffer and die." His father's reply was barely audible, and his voice quivered with strong emotion. The 5 savages looked on, barely comprehending, and they even joined in the loud outcries of the crowd.
But like all stories with a happy ending, Mr. Harrington's son was resurrected, and some of the savage children learnt what love, what great love, their father had shown them... That he gave even his only son, his pure son, that they might live.
well, as most of you have guessed by now, this is the story of how God gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that we might live.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Nothing we have done or could do will ever make Him close the door. This is the true story of the Greatest Love, unconditional love. Love so great, that you cant even begin to comprehend it.
I love You, Lord. Thank you, thank you for dying on the cross for me. :)
Mr Harrington was the richest gold miner in the entire of South Africa, and it came very much unexpected to the rest of his subordinates and co-workers when he announced his decision to adopt children from the nearby villages.
"Children are of no use, Sir! They do nothing, they live off your money, they're extra mouths to feed, and then... and then... when they grow up, and you're old, they leave you. Why would you want to adopt children?"
But Mr. Harrington was a man of few words and he said nothing, not even to his only son who pressed him, hard. He did not understand his father's intentions, but he knew his father's heart that always went out to the poor.
The day finally came, and Mr. Harrington adopted no less than FIVE children from the orphanage, 3 girls and 2 boys. They were uneducated children of varying ages, small, olive-skinned and malnourished. No one could understand how Mr. Harrington came to love them almost as much, if not more than his own boy, for the children were never grateful.
They never learnt how to speak; and retained their savage ways, hooting and staring at passers-by with their large eyes, wide and fearful. One could have said they were almost afraid, they did not know what love was, and now it was showered on them, they did not know how to react to it.
The children got into trouble so often that Mr. Harrington, a respectable man, was often seen at the county police station apologizing profusely for the misdeeds of his children. And yet, he never disciplined them harshly, he sat them down and talked to them... But the children never learned.
"To love the children to such an extent, one would think that he was foolish and desperate!" the villagers whispered among themselves, but Mr. Harrington paid no heed to the advice of the rest that the children would one day betray and desert him.
"I love them, and they are my children." That was the only reply they could get from him.
The day came, the day finally came, that the villagers' predictions came true. All five children broke loose, and created a hell in the entire county, plundering all the houses, injuring people. Even after years of being shown love and the tenderest compassion, they were still hard-hearted savages. Mr. Harrington was heart-broken, but he still refused to comment. It was evident he was deeply grieved...
After nearly a week, the adopted terrors were caught. The verdict was such that they should be stoned to death, and Mr. Harrington was there at the hearing. He was silent, deep in thought, and when the sentence was pronounced, he walked up to the judge's seat, and said the most unbelievable thing.
"Your Honour, would you give these children back to me, if I gave you my son, my one and only son? You can take him to be stoned instead."
The boy looked at his father with shock and disbelief, but the father kept his steadfast on the judge. "My father, why have you abandoned me?" The boy was crying now, and Mr. Harrington's eyes were filled with tears, but he was looking only at the 5 piteous children standing in the farthest corner.
"Why would you want to do this, Mr. Harrington?" The judge was nearly speechless, as was the entire courtroom. "They're worthless little savages, they won't know how to appreciate the love you've shown them, and they're only gonna betray you again, and hurt you. They will never understand."
"I love them, and they are my children." Mr. Harrington replied quietly, and it was all he would give for an answer.
"Fine, so be it." The judge rapped his gavel decisively, and the boy was brought out to be stoned by the villagers. His father stood at a distance, his face averted, but his heart evidently torn apart by just the sight of his only heir being stoned to death.
"Daddy! Daddy! Why are you doing this to me?" the boy cried out again and again, as the stones pelted on him. He sank weakly to his knees, and breathed his last.
"My child, I'm doing this, so they might live. They are the reason that you have to suffer and die." His father's reply was barely audible, and his voice quivered with strong emotion. The 5 savages looked on, barely comprehending, and they even joined in the loud outcries of the crowd.
But like all stories with a happy ending, Mr. Harrington's son was resurrected, and some of the savage children learnt what love, what great love, their father had shown them... That he gave even his only son, his pure son, that they might live.
well, as most of you have guessed by now, this is the story of how God gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that we might live.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Nothing we have done or could do will ever make Him close the door. This is the true story of the Greatest Love, unconditional love. Love so great, that you cant even begin to comprehend it.
I love You, Lord. Thank you, thank you for dying on the cross for me. :)
posted by timetraveller at
11:28 PM
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