A Life Of Sacrifice

A Life Of Sacrifice

Imagine leaving your children, realizing you would probably never see them again.

ADONIRAM JUDSON, born in 1788, had been part of the first American missionary contingent that sailed for Asia in 1812. His missionary career in Burma had been painful yet rewarding. He had undergone a horrendous seventeen-month imprisonment and had lost his first wife, Ann, and three children. Yet he had translated the Bible into Burmese and seen many come to Christ.

In 1845 Adoniram, in poor health, left with his second wife, Sarah, and their three oldest children. The plan was to leave the children in America for their education. During the voyage Sarah died, and Adoniram arrived in America a widower for the second time.

While there, Judson traveled from Boston to Philadelphia with a Dr. Gillette, who gave him a book of short stories called Trippings by Fanny Forester. Judson read portions of the book and remarked that it was regrettable that a person with such intellectual gifts would waste her talents on popular fiction and he would like to tell her so.

Dr. Gillette replied that Judson would meet her since she was staying at his home in Philadelphia. Her real name was Emily Chubbuck.

When they met Judson was humbled to learn that she had been forced to write fiction to escape poverty. He asked her if she would write a book about his recently deceased wife. Emily agreed, and they spent much time together on the project. As they talked, Emily revealed how as a child she had read a book about Judson’s first wife, Ann, and had felt ever since that she would be a missionary someday.

Romance grew out of their camaraderie, and Adoniram and Emily were married in June of 1846. With his burden for the work in Burma and his health failing, Adoniram made preparations to return after just nine months. Aware that he would probably never see his children again, on July 10, 1846, he wrote them all letters:

My Dear Sons:

Farewell. We embark tomorrow about noon. Many a time I shall look at your likenesses, and weep over them, and pray that you may early become true Christians. Love your brother George [Boardman, their eighteen-year-old half brother] and your uncle and aunt Newton. Pray every morning and evening. Your new mama sends you her best love. Forget not

Your affectionate father,

A. Judson

My Dear Daughter:

Farewell. We embark tomorrow about noon. I think the likenesses taken of your face very good. I shall take one with me, and shall many a time look at it and weep over it, and pray that you may early become a Christian. . . .

Love your dear aunts and cousins, with whom you live; pray every morning and evening, and may we meet again on earth, and if not, O may we meet in heaven, and be happy together. Your new mama sends her best love.

Your affectionate father,

A. Judson

Judson lived just four more years but he left behind a church of seven thousand Burmese and more than one hundred native pastors.

Reflection

Life was harsh and the sacrifices great for early missionaries like Adoniram Judson. Has God called upon you to give up anything for him?

If you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

Matthew 10:37-38