A Mother’s Good Advice

There does not seem to be any harm in two boys sitting and talking together. Yet sometimes there is, for the Bible says we must not “walk,” or “stand,” or “sit” with those who do not obey God’s laws as given us in His Word. This means that we must not choose such people for our close friends.

Will was a teenager, the only son of a poor widow who had brought up her son to read his Bible each day so that he would know what he ought to do. Frequently, however, he would talk with Sam Jones, a young sailor in the same village. Sam lived a very reckless and wild life when at sea, and he often told about the wonderful things he had seen in the distant places he had visited. As we read in Psalm 107, sailors see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep, which should awaken them to the greatness of the Creator, but this meant nothing to Sam.

Sam was trying to convince Will to go to sea. Sam’s father was the captain of a ship, and Sam was certain that his father would permit them to be together on a ship, so that the two of them would have wonderful times together. “The trouble is,” said Will, “my mother will not let me go, and I am probably too young.”

Sam’s reply was with bad language and an oath. This should have opened Will’s eyes to the danger of having such a friend, yet it did not. At every opportunity Will was at the harbor where he was sure to find Sam, who often took him on board some of the ships.

Will often spoke to his mother about his longing for the sea. “You are all that I have, Will,” she would say, “and I cannot part with you.”

Then he would answer roughly, “I’ve got to go sometime. Just think of the money I would make.”

Will’s mother was in poor health, and she needed all his love and care. Although Will knew this, he thought more about the stories which Sam told him of a life at sea. He was often cross and unpleasant when at home, answering roughly to his mother’s requests, and grumbling as he did his chores. His mother was grieved and anxious, knowing that Will was under a bad influence. As she sat sewing, she often prayed, “Lord, keep my poor boy from going astray.”

One night as she sat up late with her needle and thread, Will said, “Oh, Mother, you do nothing but sew and stitch. You will wear yourself out.”

Looking up, his mother replied, “I do not mind it when you are with me.”

Shutting his book, Will went to his room, but he did not kiss her goodnight as usual. He muttered to himself, “If she would let me go to sea, the pay I would bring home would make her life easier.”

The next morning was Sunday, and the warm sun woke him and shone on the clean clothes his mother had laid out for him. How neat they looked! There, too, was his mother’s work of the night before, new trousers which she had finished for him to wear to church.

As he looked at the clothes, he felt his mother’s love and care as never before. “Mother is good,” he exclaimed to himself. His heart and conscience were touched by what she was doing for him. Tears came into his eyes—not proud, angry tears because he could not have his own way, but tears of remorse for having grieved her the night before. “I will never, never disobey her by going to sea, or even mention it again,” he resolved as he dressed himself.

He soon found employment in a carpenter’s shop, but one day Sam Jones came to see him. In his usual foul and rough language, he told Will that he had found a place for him. “You must go. Run away tonight,” he said.

“No,” said Will. “My duty and pleasure for the present is to stay at home with my mother. I must obey her. God’s Word says so clearly, ‘Despise not thy mother when she is old,’ and I am resolved to follow that instruction.”

No matter what Sam said, Will was unwilling to listen, and soon Sam left, calling him foolish for not following up on the good-paying job he had found for him. Will’s diligence in the carpenter shop, however, was rewarded by his employer, and he and his mother were enabled to live comfortably together.

A year later, Will’s mother died. He often gave thanks to God for keeping him at home with her so that he could help her in the short time she still lived, and he never forgot the things she had taught him. Posted at his workplace was the text found in Proverbs, “Forsake not the law of thy mother.” In later life it was his sound advice to others who visited him.

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