Every Sunday afternoon, right after church, the pastor and his eleven-year-old son had a cherished tradition. They would venture into their town to distribute Gospel tracts, sharing the message of Jesus with everyone they encountered.
One particular Sunday, the weather was brutal. It was bitterly cold, and the rain poured down in torrents. Despite the harsh conditions, the boy bundled up in his warmest clothes and said, “Alright, Dad, I’m ready to go.” The pastor, caught off guard, asked, “Ready for what?”
“Dad, it’s time for us to hand out our tracts,” the boy replied, his eyes earnest with conviction. The pastor hesitated, glancing at the storm outside. “Son, it’s freezing and pouring out there.”
With childlike sincerity, the boy responded, “But Dad, aren’t people still going to Hell, even in the rain?”
The pastor paused, reflecting on his son’s words before finally admitting, “Son, I’m not going out in this weather.”
Determined, the boy pleaded, “Dad, can I go, please?”
After a moment of thought, the father nodded. “You can go, but be careful. Here are the tracts. God be with you, my boy.”
“Thank you, Dad!” The boy’s face lit up with a smile, and with steadfast determination, he ventured out into the storm. For the next two hours, he trudged through the rain-soaked streets, offering tracts to everyone he met. Cold and drenched, he persevered until only one Gospel tract remained.
Standing on a deserted street corner, the boy looked around, hoping to find someone to share it with. The streets were empty. Refusing to give up, he spotted a nearby house and decided to try one last time. Walking up the path, he rang the doorbell. No answer. He rang again, still nothing.
Most would have left, but the boy’s heart was stirred by something he couldn’t explain. He rang the bell again and knocked loudly. After several attempts, the door slowly opened.
An elderly woman stood in the doorway, her expression weary and sad. In a voice as bright as the boy’s heart, he said, “Ma’am, I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU. This is my last Gospel tract, and it will tell you all about Jesus and His love for you.”
The boy handed her the tract and, with a smile, turned to leave. As he walked away, the elderly woman called after him, her voice full of gratitude, “Thank you, son! And God bless you!”
The following Sunday, the pastor stood before his congregation and asked if anyone had a testimony to share. Slowly, from the back pew, the elderly woman rose to her feet.
With a glow on her face, she began, “No one here knows me. I’ve never been to this church before. Before last Sunday, I wasn’t a Christian. My husband passed away some time ago, leaving me all alone. Last Sunday, I felt more hopeless than ever. It was a cold and rainy day, but inside, my heart was even colder. I had given up on life.
“I went up to my attic, tied a rope to a rafter, and stood on a chair, ready to end my life. But just as I was about to step off the chair, the doorbell rang. I thought, ‘I’ll just ignore it, and whoever it is will leave.’ But the ringing grew louder and more persistent, followed by knocking. No one ever comes to see me, so I finally untied the rope and went to the door.
“When I opened it, there stood the most radiant little boy I had ever seen. His smile… oh, I’ll never forget it. With the purest heart, he said, ‘Ma’am, Jesus really does love you,’ and handed me a Gospel tract.
“As soon as I closed the door, I read every word of that tract. I took down the rope and chair—I didn’t need them anymore. Today, I stand before you as a child of God. That boy saved my life.”
Tears filled the eyes of everyone in the congregation. Amidst the praise that filled the church, the pastor stepped down from the pulpit and embraced his son, sobbing uncontrollably. In that moment, there was no prouder father, no greater love.
But this moment mirrored another.
For there was once a Father who sent His Son into a cold, dark world. That Son, too, was sent to save lives. When His mission was fulfilled, the Father received Him back with joy beyond description, and heaven erupted in praise and glory. The Father enthroned His beloved Son above all, forever celebrating the One who brought light into the darkness, saving souls from eternal despair.
Just like that little boy in the rain.
By Tamera Glenn
