This is another tract by Marjorie Baker, which is particularly moving, especially the way Mrs. Ma perceived messengers. The Hebrew word for angels, “malakim,” translates to ‘angels’ or ‘messengers.’ This tract encourages us to be equipped with faithful messengers of the Gospel for the world.
What does it mean to be shod? To be shod means to bind under one’s feet, to be in bonds, to tie, wind, knit, or be at one with (Strong’s H5274). It also relates to your walk, or how you live your life daily. Thus, we should live out our daily life grounded in Shalom, peace with G-d.
The Old Shoemaker Goes Home
by Majorie K. Baker
OId Mr. Ma always had work to do. Every country village needs someone to make and repair shoes, and Mr. Ma was that indispensable person. Mrs. Ma. too, always kept busy in their one-room shop – one room that was used for receiving customers, eating meals, repairing shoes, and in the evening, for reckoning the accounts of the day. Behind a bamboo partition was a space just large enough to place a wooden bed. A quilt was rolled neatly at the foot of the bed. Its flowered cotton cover gave the only touch of brightness to the humble home.
Old Mr. Ma’s sons were grown and gone to the city, but the old couple did not lack company. Their door was always open to passing villagers, and neighbors enjoyed their company. No one who dropped in for business or just to chat was denied a cup of fragrant tea. Life was not easy for the two of them, but by diligently repairing shoes they made at least a living.
One day an old friend stopped to visit the old couple in their shop. As he sat on his stool sipping tea at the round wooden table, he told them about his new faith in Jesus.
His own heart overflowed with thanksgiving for what God had done for him and he shared his story with the shoemaker and his wife. Like little children the couple listened with wonder and then with joy. They accepted the gift of salvation eagerly and became a part of the family of believers in that village.
Not long afterward the old shoemaker fell ill. In spite of the care and concern of his wife and the Christians who prayed for him, his condition grew worse each day.
Friends continued to visit, including the neighbor who lived across the street. This neighbor was a Party official of rather high rank who respected the old couple and tried to keep an eye out for their welfare.
One day when this neighbor was brushing his teeth outside his own door he saw two persons dressed in white walk by and enter the shoemaker’s shop. Full of curiosity, he stood watching as they disappeared inside. After a few moments he saw the same two persons emerge from the shop with the shoemaker himself between them. The two visitors were holding his hands. As the neighbor stared, the three then ascended slowly into the sky. Suddenly the sound of weeping was heard coming from the shoe shop. It was the shoemaker’s wife. The neighbor rushed across the narrow street and into the little shop. Behind the bamboo partition he found the old woman and the cause for her weeping. Her husband, the old shoemaker, lay dead.
“Old Mother!” the official called in a hushed, excited voice. “Who were the two persons dressed in white who came into your house? I saw them take your husband up into the sky! They disappeared in the clouds!”
Hearing that, the old woman stopped crying. She realized God had done a wonderful thing. He had sent His messengers to escort her husband home to heaven, just as He did for Lazarus in the Bible! It brought great comfort and peace to her heart and she began to quietly praise the Lord. When she tried to explain what had happened, the awe-struck official stammered, “I don’t understand. What is this you believe in?” Then in her simple language the woman began to tell him about the Creator God who has prepared a home in heaven for those who believe in His Son, Jesus. She would have continued but the official interrupted her, saying, “How do I believe? I want to believe!”
“Wait here!” the old woman replied. “I’ll bring someone who can explain this better than I can.” And she hurried away. But instead of waiting, the official ran home and gathered his entire family together. When the shoemaker’s wife came back to the shop with her Christian friend, he was waiting to show them to his house where his family was gathered in the front room. Young and old alike were there waiting, ready to hear about the Christians’ God. That day every member of the official’s family trusted in Jesus as Savior. The old shoemaker had gone “home,” and an entire household had found salvation in Jesus Christ.
