p. 10 | The Faith of a Child by Alma Dike

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 21, 1909

The Faith of a Child

By Alma Dike

ALMA DIKE

When I was a child, I did not have the privilege of being trained by Christian parents, and yet the Lord, our Great Teacher, knew just how a child could be taught to love and trust him.

One day my father sent me up among the hills to collect some money. When I reached the foot of the hill on my way back, it was so dark that I could not see which way to turn. For a moment I could not think of anything but the snakes that I knew were there. I tried to walk, but fell down. I was so frightened that the sweat trickled down my cheeks. Then that dear name “Jesus” came to my mind, and I only cried it out, “Jesus! Jesus!” and lo, he was right there; for as soon as I had cried out the name, I was happy, and felt no fear, but began to sing. After I had walked a little way, I felt a light touch on my shoulder, and heard a small voice say, “Look behind.” I looked, and saw a light shining on the gate that I should have gone through, but had passed. I knew then that I was not alone, and the joy that filled my soul I can not describe. I kept praising God all the way; and whenever I had to turn, the light would shine so that I could see where to go. Had not that angel touched my shoulder, I should have been in the river; for it was only a few minutes’ walk ahead of me, and I did not know it at the time.

From that time, the Saviour was my best friend, and I was so happy in him. I had found some one to go to with my joys and sorrows. He was always ready to hear my childish prayers, and I knew they were answered.

Then came the time when I was obliged to go out into the world to do for myself. I wondered if it would not be all right to keep Sunday as a sabbath, as other good people were keeping it; but then I heard the Saviour say to my heart: “I have done all you have asked me to do, and now when you know that I have said the seventh day is the Sabbath, will you say No?” My answer was, “No, let it cost what it will, I will obey my Saviour.” I was told that if I kept the Sabbath in my mind, it would be all right, for I was obliged to go out to work, and nobody would let me go to church on that day. Finally I was continually among people who did not give me any time in which to read my Bible and talk with my heavenly Friend, and had to work hard and late. The result was that for about two years heaven and Jesus never came into my mind. But though I had forgotten him, he had not forgotten me. When I looked at the dark clouds, they told me of the Judgment day, and I knew that I was not ready. Then I began to read the Bible, but could not find peace with God. I reasoned that it was a story-book, similar to others I had read, and that the story about the Thor god might be just as true.

However, one evening when I was reading the Bible, the tempter whispered, “There is no God,” and I answered, “No, there is no God.” Then he who was my friend saw it was time to do something, and he whispered by his Spirit in my heart: “Don’t you remember how you called on me when you were in trouble in the woods, and how

I helped you?” and now you say there is no God!” Then it all came back to my mind, and I was on my knees in that minute asking God to forgive me and to receive me back. It was not long before I was again trying to live the truth; and as soon as I had obeyed, my peace with God brought me the joy the world has never known.

I have been in many of our people’s homes, both in this country and in the old, but have been in only a few families where it was expected that the children would pray at the family altar. I once met a bright little girl who knew the Sabbath-school lesson well every week. When I asked her if she loved Jesus, she said she did not know. I asked her if she prayed, and she said she did not know how. There were seven dear children in that family, and I found out that none of them knew how to pray. Is it any wonder that such children will not stand firm when brought face to face with the trials of the world—when the tempter comes to tell them that to do as the world does, will be all right? They can not say, “The Saviour always answered my prayers, and I love him too well to do anything he has told me not to do,” for they have never been taught to pray in their own behalf. They know that Jesus was a good man, but do not know him as the truest and best friend; so when the enemy comes with his strong temptations, they fall. If they had only been acquainted with the Saviour’s voice, they would hear him say, “This is the way.”

I am glad that some of our mothers understand that to train up a child in the way he should go is not only to make him familiar with the Bible, but to lead him to know and love the Saviour. The children must learn that although Jesus has gone to heaven, he hears their prayers and is their truest and best Friend.

I once had a little girl staying with me. One day on coming home from school she said, “I am so happy.” She then told me that she had had some trouble about her lesson and had begun to cry. Then she remembered what I had told her, and she said, “He did hear me, and now I am so happy.”

Fathers and mothers, teach your child to pray and to know the Saviour, and when he is old, how can he turn away?

Red Rock, Okla.