Mothering the Homeless by Bertha M. Mitchell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 12, 1907

Mothering the Homeless

By Bertha M. Mitchell

BERTHA M. MITCHELL

“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens; and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isa. 58: 5-8.

My heart is stirred within me as I think of the vast number of people who are not being loosed from “the bands of wickedness,” who are hungry, naked, and homeless. I am thinking especially of the little children. In many cases grown people could help themselves if they would, but the little children are helpless; and what are we as a people doing for them?

This question has been ringing in my ears almost constantly for the past few weeks, and over and over again I am

compelled to answer that I do not know.

I do not mean merely the children of our own denomination; I mean the hundreds of little ones all about us in these large cities, those who are homeless and without a friend in this great wicked world, with no one to love or care for them, those who are orphans, and those who are worse than orphans—even those who are born in sin, and have not “blue blood” to boast of. What are we as Seventh-day Adventists doing for these little homeless children? I do not mean to say that nothing has been done, but O! the field is so great, and the workers are so few!

It is true that as a people we are trying to care for our own, but O! let us not in the effort to do this, forget that the Saviour has said, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold.” And may we not gather from this that he has other lambs besides those of our own number?

My heart goes out in loving sympathy to these uncared-for little ones, many of whom are bright, intelligent, and very teachable, just as much so as our own Seventh-day Adventist children. Why is it we do not take more interest in gathering them in and training them in the service of the Master?

I believe the children should receive first consideration, because they are the most needy and the most helpless. In just a few days the name of Jesus becomes to them the sweetest word on earth.

It is my privilege to care for some of these little ones at the present time, until the city can dispose of them, and O, how I have longed to have the privilege of getting them into homes among our people!

Just a few weeks ago I had a bright, promising boy, ten years of age, whose father was dead. The little fellow had lived with his grandparents until the grandmother died, then went to live with his mother, who had married again. The stepfather was very cruel to the boy, and in one of his drunken fits was arrested. The boy (with the consent of his mother, who was a frail little woman) was taken away with the expectation of getting him a good home in the country. After several attempts to do so, and meeting with no success, the committee in charge was compelled to send him to a Catholic school, as a last resort. Here there was no trouble at all. They welcomed him with open arms. They did not stop to ask whether he was of their faith or not, nor did they ask whether he was of “royal birth.” It was enough for them to know that they were to have the privilege of training another mind in the religion they professed to believe; and you and I know full well that when he leaves their school, he will have been so rooted and grounded in the Catholic faith that nothing else will be truth to him. I had hoped so much to see him placed in a home among our people, but now he is lost to us.

I have now two darling little girls — one about five years of age, the baby about fourteen months. Both are beautiful children, of lovable disposition, and would bring happiness and joy to any home where there was a welcome for them. Is there not some one who will open her heart and home to these friendless children? Next is a baby boy, who has a bright little face, and could not help winning his way, could he have but half a chance.

Can not we who claim to love the Saviour so much, have a part in this grand and noble work of training characters for him?

But, says one, I would dearly love to do something of this kind, if I could only know that the heredity was good, and that everything would come out right in the end. But the “blood”! the “blood”! there is so much in that! “O ye of little faith!” Can not He who has the power to save a man from the very lowest depths of sin, save a little child, who as yet has never known sin? And has not the blood of our crucified Redeemer power enough in it to cover the life of a little child, just as much as yours or mine? I believe that Christ is all powerful; I believe he can give new “blood.” Think you that he would refuse to receive one of these little ones? —No, never. Why is it we always plead for an excuse the desire to walk by sight? Do parents expect to walk by sight in training their own children? And do we not know full well that there are very few families, even among those who are supposed to have had the best of training (yes, and they even make their boasts of “good blood”) where is not found the rebellious, the “black sheep”? And I presume there was never a home so good that it did not have a “dark closet” wherein was hidden some skeleton of sorrow. But “charity covereth a multitude of sins.” And how easy it is to have charity for our own! But let us ever remember that God is not partial. He loves the poor little outcast with the same tender love that reaches out after your idolized darling. Thank God, he loves them all the same. Let us pray for that same love, and remember that he who said, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” meant every word of it; and not alone for yours or mine, but for every little child that can have the training.

It is truly a great work, but we have a great Helper, one who will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in him. If only we could be willing to lay them on the altar, as did Hannah the young child Samuel, I feel confident that Christ would accept the offering.

Why, who can tell, we may find a “John the beloved,” or a “Paul,” a “Ruth,” or an “Esther.” God will bless us according to our faith. The child who is trained in God’s way, can not help being a blessing.

Those wishing to learn more about the children here mentioned, may write me, and I shall be glad to answer all questions regarding them.

143 Grant St., Dayton, Ohio.