"BOUNDING FOR JOY!"

After Bro. Roberts' death in September 1898, Sis. Jane Roberts and her daughter Sis. Sarah Jane Roberts returned home to England from Australia. The following is a touching entry in Sis. Sarah Jane's diary upon their arrival in England in January 1899:

. . . It was delightful to be in the dear old Temperance Hall again, and see all the well-remembered faces, and hear the familiar speakers, but there was a sad blank in the company which everyone felt - a place empty which no one can ever fill in the same way. But we must not dwell too much on the sad side of this, nor confine our thoughts to the present, but look forward with confidence to the future, when every place will be filled and no element of joy will be wanting; it is, indeed, an unspeakable privilege to be in the position we are, as brethren and sisters of Christ; sharers, indeed, in His sufferings now, but in His glory at that day.

On the next day we went to visit the old home in Belgrave Road, and found grandma [Bro. Roberts' mother] looking decidedly older and more feeble than when we last saw her, but still wonderful considering her 92 years. She has been very comfortable in the care of brother and sister Todd, and could not have been better cared for than she has been by them and their daughter, Katie, who performs loving services for her daily. Brother Todd always tells her all the items of news after the Sunday meetings, and she looks forward to her little interview with him, as she can hear him better than many others; she is getting terribly deaf now, and mother found it very hard work talking to her. But her interest in the truth and all its concerns is as keen as ever, and her one desire is for the Lord to come; she has always hoped to live until that joyful event, but now thinks it likely she may have to fall asleep first, and is quite prepared. She spoke quite calmly of my father's death, and said his work was done and he was at rest, awaiting the Master's voice. She can even be glad that all his troubles are over, for she knew that he labored under very heavy burdens, from which the Lord has now released him, never to feel the weary pressure again. We did not stay very long with her, as she cannot now stand the strain of long interviews, and she was not able to get up when we went, as she always used to do. Life is not very desirable at that great age; as she said, "The days are come when there is no pleasure in them"; and, indeed, it must be so. The consolation is that "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength," and, as mother said to her when she spoke of being stiff and old, "We shall see you bounding for joy yet," and the poor old eyes lighted up at the thought, and she said, "If I am worthy: but the Lord knows that I love Him!" [Emphasis in original]

RETURN TO "GROWING OLD" PAGE

 

RETURN TO INDEX