December 4

In that hour I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles until even He could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother who bids farewell to her dying child, has to be taken out of the room, so as not to look upon the last sruggles, so He bowed His head, and hid in some part of His universe. His great heart almost breaking for the love that He had for his Son. Oh, in that moment when he might have saved His Son, I thank Him and praise Him that He did no fail us, for He had not only the love of His son in mind, but He had love for us, and I rejoice that He did not interfere, and that His love for us made it possible for Him to endure to look upon the sufferings of His Son and give Him finally to us, our Savior and our Redeemer. And so this is what it cost, in part, for our Father in Heaven to give the gift of His Son unto men.

~ Melvin J. Ballard, 1919