A Mother's Love by E. A. Sutherland

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1902

A Mother's Love

By E. A. Sutherland

THE Christian church is recognized by God as his wife. He is the father, the husband. “Thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name.” And when the wife turns from her husband, this divine husband pleads with her, using the argument, “For I am married unto you.”

In the home where husband and wife are of one mind, what harmony prevails in the training of the family! It is the one ambition of the wife and mother to see their stalwart sons follow closely in the footsteps of their father.

This world contains many broken families, for sin separates mortal husbands from their wives almost as often as it breaks the bond between the heavenly husband and his wife.

When this bond is severed, mothers usually cling to the children with a love stronger than death. They themselves will starve to feed the children: they will sacrifice anything to keep the little ones in school, and to prepare them for a position in life higher than the one they themselves occupy.

Occasionally, however, a woman is found devoid of the mother instinct, but of all creatures on earth she is the lowest in the scale and the most miserable. Some inborn curse seems to hang over her, and her doom is sealed. People pity her, and she loathes herself. She is a freak of nature, or is suffering the effects of some evil habit.

If man so regards a fellow being, how must God regard his wife, the church, which turns from her little ones and leaves them to share whatever fate a heartless world may offer? His great heart of pity bleeds not only for those children, but for the mother also.

And yet there are to-day churches bearing the Father’s name, married unto him, in form at least, who are starving the souls of the children. These mothers are carelessly, ruthlessly turning from the children, and leaving them to strangers to educate. How can it be? How long can it exist?

The cry that reaches the Husband’s ear rends his heart. Message after message has been sent to arouse this slumbering conscience, and yet hundreds of children, even in Seventh-day Adventist churches, are still unprovided with Christian teachers.

Every church which yet has life enough to continue an existence must hear the word and respond.

“The work that lies next to our church members is to become interested in our youth.” “Shall members of the church give means to advance the cause of Christ among others, and then let their own children carry on the work and service of Satan?”

“In all our churches there should be schools, and teachers in those schools who are missionaries.” “Work as if you were working for your life to save children from being drowned in the polluting, corrupting influences of this life.” “We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will work for them.”

I can safely say that every church in which the breath of life still lingers will heed these words. And there should go up from our churches such a cry for Christian teachers that the whole denomination would be startled. That cry should pierce the deaf ears of every Seventh-day Adventist young man and woman who has ability to teach. Indeed, the church which lives will demand that something be done for starving, perishing children. It should be done this very year.

If such a cry should come to our conference committees from the churches, do you not think young people would be hurried to our summer school for training? Would any effort be spared? If you are in a dying church, lift your voice to save it, and save it through the children.

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.” This is the Husband’s plea for the children. Will you have a school and a Christian teacher? Now is the time to provide both. Let the mother love revive!

E. A. SUTHERLAND.