A Wild Lassie

“As a father is kind to his children, so the Lord is kind to those who love him.” — from Psalm 103

On 2 December 1848, a baby girl was born in Aberdeen, a city in Scotland. Her name was Mary Mitchell Slessor.

Mary’s mother was a gentle woman with a deep, quiet faith. Her church had a mission far away in West Africa, at a place called Calabar, and the news from it was read aloud at home. Years later Mary said, “I had my missionary enthusiasm for Calabar in particular from her.” Her family remembered that when little Mary played at keeping school, her pretend pupils were always Africans!

But Mary’s home was not always a happy one. Her father, Robert, was a shoemaker, and he drank too much. In 1859 the family moved to Dundee, a city full of factories, hoping for a fresh start, but he still spent every penny on drink. So Mary’s mother went out to work in a factory. On Saturday nights she and Mary sat up sewing, waiting for him to come home, and praying quietly to calm their hearts.

Still, Mary was not gloomy. She called herself “a wild lassie,” which is Scottish for a wild girl. One winter afternoon an old widow brought some girls in from the cold to sit by her fire. She pointed at the flames and warned them how dangerous it was to turn away from Jesus. Mary could not stop thinking about it. In her own words, she “repented and believed.” Inside, she found God’s love, and she never tried to frighten anyone else into it.

Mary prayed for her father for years, and he never changed. Much later she wrote, “I know what it is to pray long years and never get the answer.” But she had found a Father in heaven who never let her down.

Maybe something at home makes you sad or worried. God sees, and he cares, and you can tell him everything. If you ever feel unsafe at home, tell a grown-up you trust.

Dear God, thank you that you are my Father in heaven and that you are always kind to me. Please look after my family, and help me to tell you everything. Amen.