During a time of long pain and
suffering from an illness, Mrs. Spurgeon was often left alone at home due to
Pastor Charles being engaged in many Pastoral duties. She added the following
story, which he left out in the first draft of C.H.
Spurgeon: Autobiography Vol 2, and it is a great thing she did add it,
because I think this may be one of my absolute favorites:
"While
sick, Mrs. Spurgeon had one very remarkable instance of a desire of hers being
granted by what cannot but be accepted as a Divine interposition. Her husband
often used to ask if there were anything she would like him to get for her. The
usual answer was a negative as she said she had all she needed except health.
But one day in a half-bantering tone she said, “I should like an opal ring and
a piping bullfinch!” Her husband was surprised, but replied, “Ah, you know I
cannot get those for you!” For several days the curious request was laughed
over, and then it passed from the memories of both husband and wife.
Mrs. Spurgeon herself shall tell the sequel of the story. “One Thursday
evening, on his return from the Tabernacle, he (the preacher) came into my room
with such a beaming face and such love-lighted eyes, that I knew something had
delighted him very much. In his hand he held a tiny box, and I am sure his
pleasure exceeded mine as he took from it a beautiful little ring and placed it
on my finger. "There is your opal ring, my darling." he said, and
then he told me of the strange way in which it had come. An old lady whom he
had once seen when she was ill, sent a note to the Tabernacle to say she
desired to give Mrs. Spurgeon a small present, and could someone be sent to her
to receive it. Mr. Spurgeon's private secretary went accordingly and brought the
little parcel, which, when opened, was found to contain this opal ring. How we
talked of the Lord's tender love for His stricken child and of His
condescension in thus stooping to supply an unnecessary gratification to His
dear servant's sick one, I must leave my readers to imagine; but I can remember
feeling that the Lord was very near to us. “Not long after that I was moved to
Brighton, there to pass a crisis in my life, the result of which would be a
restoration to better health, or death. One evening, when my dear husband came
from London, he brought a large package with him, and, uncovering it, disclosed
a cage containing a lovely piping bullfinch! My astonishment was great, my joy
unbounded, and these emotions were intensified as he related the way in which
he became possessed of the coveted treasure. He had been to see a dear friend
of ours, whose husband was sick unto death, and after commending the sufferer
to God in prayer, Mrs. T said to him, "I want you to take my pet bird to
Mrs. Spurgeon, I would give him to none but her, his songs are too much for my
poor husband in his weak state, and I know that 'Bully' will interest and amuse
Mrs. Spurgeon in her loneliness while you are so much away from her." Mr.
Spurgeon then told her of my desire for such a companion, and together they
rejoiced over the care of the loving Heavenly Father who had so wondrously
provided the very gift His child had longed for. With that cage beside him the
journey to Brighton was a very short one, and when Bully piped his pretty song
and took a hemp seed as a reward from the lips of his new mistress, there were
eyes with joyful tears in them and hearts overflowing with praise to God in the
little room by the sea that night, and the dear Pastor's comment was, 'I think
you are one of your Heavenly Father's spoiled children, and He just gives you
whatever you ask for."'
If you're wondering how the special
care of God for Mrs. Spurgeon applies to you, know that every child of God is a
spoiled one; given abundant grace and the privilege of children to "ask
whatever you wish, and receive."
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