A Boy Called Charlie

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” — from James 1

On 2 December 1860 a baby boy was born in Spratton, a village in the middle of England. His name was Charles Thomas Studd. His family called him Charlie. When he grew up, people all over the world would know him by his first two letters: C. T.

Charlie’s family was very rich. His father, Edward, had made a fortune in India by growing a plant called indigo, which makes a deep blue dye. The hard work in the fields was done by Indian farmers, who were often treated unfairly. Charlie did not think about that when he was small. But one day he would give his share of that money away, and some of it would go back to India.

When Charlie was ten, the family moved into a huge house called Tedworth House. His father loved horses. One of his racehorses, Salamander, had won the Grand National, the most famous horse race in England. At Tedworth he made a racecourse for his horses and a cricket ground for his boys.

Charlie had five brothers, one sister and a big half-brother too. The boys played cricket whenever they could. Charlie and his older brothers, Kynaston and George, all went to a famous school called Eton, and all three played in the school’s cricket team. The people who wrote about Charlie’s life say that in his last year there he was the team’s captain. He was tall, cheerful and well liked, and he was already one of the best young cricketers in England.

Charlie had so many good things: a father who loved him, brothers to play with, and a wonderful gift for games. The Bible says that every good gift comes from God. Your gifts come from God too, whether you are good at running, drawing, singing or being kind. God gives them because he loves you, and he is glad when you use them for him.

Dear God, thank you for all the good gifts you have given me. Help me to remember that they come from you, and to use them for you. Amen.