Hudson Taylor was accompanied by his widowed mother from London to Liverpool in September of 1853 as he was to board a ship for his Missionary destination of China. Unlike the present day, where missionaries are able to travel home from time to time, the departure for a missionary then was often the final time they ever saw their families and friends again.
His mother came on board ship to see his quarters and to pray with her son before departure. We read these words on that event, in Taylor’s writings; “Then, notice was given that we must separate, and we had to say good-by, never expecting to meet on earth again.
For my sake, she restrained her feelings as much as possible. We parted: and she went on shore, giving me her blessing; I stood alone on deck, and she followed the ship as we moved toward the dock gates. As we passed through the gates, and the separation really began, I shall never forget the cry of anguish wrung from that mother’s heart. It pierced through me like a knife. I never knew so fully until then, what ‘God so loved the world’ meant.
I am quite sure that my precious mother learned more of the love of God to the perishing in that hour than in all her life before. Oh, how it must grieve the heart of God when he sees his children indifferent to the needs of the wide world for which His beloved, His only begotten Son, died!”
Psalm 45:10-11 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
The degree of our indifference, or of our concern for the gospel needs of the wide world is reflected in the degree of our involvement in giving to the call and cause of the Mission of the church. That is, in sending, supporting, and taking that gospel to this needy world.