Over My Shoulder

Chapter 11—A Timely Message

Many of the heavenly messages communicated through Ellen White were addressed to ministers and church leaders, teachers, Bible instructors, and physicians, but not all. Some were for young people and children and the other church members. Once, when I was 14 years old and Mabel was 9, Grandma White was given a testimony especially for our family, and most of it was addressed particularly to me. OMS 87.1

Lenora and I were attending the night industrial school, which had been transferred from the old hotel building in Cooranbong to the new loft erected over the sawmill. Every evening at about six o’clock, Lenora and I, with Herbert and Lillian Lacey and the younger members of the Lacey family, would pick up our lanterns and, single file, traipse down the narrow path through the woods to the school site. We would climb the steep, narrow stairs on the outside of the building to the loft floor, there to sit on plank benches and recite our lessons by lantern light, along with the young men working on the school property. OMS 87.2

One night when I returned with the others from our evening classes I was tired and discouraged. There was so much work to do and so little time for study. I flung myself on the bed and gave way to grief and tears. But the old habit of taking my troubles to God in prayer prevailed. OMS 87.3

“O God, dear God,” I pleaded, “give me strength to go on. Take away my bitter feelings and let me know the peace I once enjoyed.” But I seemed to find no relief in prayer. It didn’t seem as if I were talking to God at all, or as if He were anywhere near. I prayed on and on for a long time, but felt no assurance of His presence. Finally, feeling utterly forsaken, I lay down with a lonesome ache in my heart. After some time, I fell into a troubled sleep. OMS 87.4

It may have been the next day—at least very soon after this, as I remember—that Grandma’s carriage stopped at the Convent door. She did not greet us with her usual cheery “Good afternoon,” but said very seriously, “Willie, call your family together; I have words to speak to them.” She always called our father Willie. OMS 87.5

We came into the front room—Father, Mother, Mabel, and I, with our little twin brothers. As usual, Mabel picked up Baby Henry and I took Herbert on my lap. OMS 88.1

Grandma said, “Will someone take care of the twins? I want Ella and Mabel to give me all their attention, for I have a solemn message for them.” OMS 88.2

When we were quietly seated, she opened the small satchel in which she carried her writings and took out a manuscript written that morning. There was absolute silence as she began reading it to us. OMS 88.3

“I was unable to sleep after eleven o’clock. In the night season I had been instructed of God. I have been made to feel deeply. One stood in our midst. Willie, his wife, May, and several others were present. Words of deep import were spoken.” OMS 88.4

First, several sentences were addressed to our parents. They were told that our household was too large; there was too much noise and confusion in the home, too much forgetfulness of God in daily duties. There should be more time for Bible study. We children must be taught to form orderly habits, to keep our clothes clean and mended. How I hated mending! I lost a sentence or two thinking about it. Bringing my thoughts back, I listened more carefully. OMS 88.5

“Let a living faith run like threads of gold through the daily experiences, in the performance of little duties. ‘Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’ Then there will be a looking unto Jesus; love for Him will be the continual motive, giving vital force to everything that is undertaken.” OMS 88.6

Words were then addressed directly to us girls: “Your mother needs your help as members of the firm. Be true to home duties. Take heed to her counsel and instruction. Respect her words. Obey her requests. This is a part of your education that will fit you to become members of the family above.” OMS 88.7

As Grandma continued, I realized that most of the testimony was meant especially for us. My name was mentioned several times. I was told that my work was to set a fit example before my younger sister by being a living Christian, faithful in all the little home duties, heeding every suggestion mother made, yet not waiting for her to tell me what to do when I myself could see what needed to be done. OMS 88.8

I should keep my room in order, carefully removing all dust and dirt. The kitchen was to be kept neat and clean. OMS 89.1

Interrupting Grandma, I asked, “Did the angel say all those things, or did you think of them yourself as you were writing?” OMS 89.2

Grandma replied, “The angel talked with me in the night and while it was yet dark, I arose and dressed and wrote down the messages that were given to me for you and Mabel and your parents.” OMS 89.3

Then she read on: “Books are to be laid aside for their proper season, and no more study should engross the mind than can be attended to without neglecting the household duties. You may fill your place in the household as a thoughtful, care-taking, practical Christian, working for Jesus, doing the little duties that are often disagreeable but which must be done and not delayed.” OMS 89.4

We were told not to be discouraged. Angels were watching to see how they could work with us to help us develop Christlike characters. Then, lifting Mabel to her lap, Grandma put her arm around me as she read the last words of the testimony. OMS 89.5

“In doing your daily duties promptly, neatly, faithfully, you are missionaries. You are bearing witness for Christ. You are showing that the religion of Christ does not, in principle or practice, make you untidy, coarse, disrespectful to your parents by taking little heed to their counsel and instruction. Bible religion practiced will make you kind, thoughtful, faithful. You will not neglect the little things that should be done to give a neat, wholesome appearance even in the kitchen.... ‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.’” OMS 89.6

Grandma finished reading. She laid the manuscript in Mother’s hands and stood up. OMS 89.7

I immediately fled upstairs to my room, buried my face in the pillow, and cried. My thoughts were bitter and resentful. Why did I have to spend so much time sweeping and scrubbing and washing dishes? I needed time for study. That was one reason I had been discouraged and blue. I wanted to stand high in my night school classes. Then, suddenly, as if struck by lightning, I remembered my prayer. So very recently, I had knelt in that same spot and asked God for help. Was this His answer? Had the great God in heaven heard the cry of a young girl and sent an angel with the answer to her request? Yes, God had heard me. He did love me! He had sent this message of reproof because He loved me! OMS 89.8

Tears of repentance took the place of the wicked, rebellious tears of a few moments before. I knelt where I had so recently prayed in despair. God had not forsaken me! OMS 90.1

As soon as I could wash away the tearstains, I hurried down to the room where Father, Mother, and Mabel were talking together. Grandma had gone. I threw myself into Mother’s arms. OMS 90.2

“Ella,” Father said tenderly, “you have had a hard time these past months. Life has not been easy for any of us. But these trials will pass. Soon we shall be living in our cottage, just us four with the twins and Joe. We’ll not have so large a family to care for nor so many visitors to entertain. OMS 90.3

“There will be no more rough board floors to scrub. We’ll have a new cookstove, not like this old, cracked one that smokes up the kitchen. The green eucalyptus branches that I have been salvaging from the clearing shall have had time to dry out and will burn better.” OMS 90.4

“And we’ll have a bathroom, won’t we, Papa, with a bathtub?” Mabel volunteered happily. “We won’t have to carry the water and the tub upstairs anymore!” OMS 90.5

Mother pressed my hand. “Think of it, Ella; there will be a sink in the kitchen and water on tap from a big tank outside. And Joe Mills will be here to help us. Even though he is only 15 years old, he is willing and clever, and can take care of us while Father is away. He can make the garden and help around the house.” OMS 90.6

“And milk the cow,” I announced emphatically, thinking of another burden that would be rolled off my shoulders. OMS 90.7

“And I shall have only half as many lamps to take care of,” said Mabel jubilantly. OMS 90.8

For some minutes I had been thinking about a sticky saucepan I had left soaking, well hidden behind the kitchen stove. As soon as I could be sure no one was looking, I took it to the sandpile behind the house and gave it a good scouring. Then I looked around the kitchen, straightened things up here and there, threw out a half-rotten pumpkin, and energetically scrubbed the table. “‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much,’” I repeated to myself. “Hereafter I shall try to do every task as faithfully and carefully as if I could look up and see Jesus standing nearby, observing everything I am doing.” OMS 90.9

It was not long after this that we moved into our new house across the road from Grandma’s home. OMS 91.1