Not Like Jesus by S. S. Bartlett

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 1, 1869

Not Like Jesus.

By S. S. Bartlett

“Ma, you ain’t like Jesus,” said a little girl one day, in answer to an impatient reproof from her mother, while the big tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Not like Jesus!” How these words should ring through our hearts. Thank God, they still ring in that mother’s heart. She could not reprove her for her lack of filial respect, for she felt that the childish rebuke was well deserved.

“Not like Jesus!” Very humbling were those words from her child. She was humbled by them so that she could say, “Dear child, can you not pray that I may become like Jesus?” And often since that time has the childish prayer ascended from her lips, “O Lord, bless my mother, and make her like Jesus.” May it not be, that the simple prayer of a little child will gain entrance where others do not reach?

“Not like Jesus!” Ah; how true. How little do we who are parents comprehend the feelings of our children. How little do we realize that the stern rebuke, the unkind look, the hasty or impatient word, is often answered in our children by the tears, not of anger or resentment, but of a loving, though grieved and outraged, nature.

O thou lamb of God! Meek and lowly One! Mould me into thine image. Give me more of thy Spirit. Make me like one of “these little ones,” of whom thou hast said, “Of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” S. S. BARTLETT.

Holly, Mich.