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Illustration
Object:
There was a missionary who had spent 25 years in the field without furlough. Finally, he and his wife decided to travel home to visit old friends and family. They booked passage on a ship and were soon on their way back to America. It just so happened that they were traveling on the same steamer as an important US dignitary. When they pulled into the harbor, the dignitary, who was returning from a short hunting safari in Africa, was greeted by hundreds of people waving flags, screaming, and cheering his name. By the time the missionary and his wife disembarked, however, the crowd was gone. Not even one person was there to welcome them back from their 25-year service in the mission field. The missionary felt tears come to his eyes. Frustrated, he silently asked God: "Is this it? After all my work for you, is this silence the only reward I find when I come home?" In his heart, he heard God's answer. "Be patient, my son. You are not home yet."
