Papa, Say Amen by Mrs. M. C. Truesdail

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1871

“Papa, Say Amen.”

By Mrs. M. C. Truesdail

Such was the innocent request of a bright, promising boy between three and four years of age, as he became tired of his father’s long, dry prayer. Carefully he moved away from his own little chair where he was kneeling, till close by his father’s side he cautiously repeated in a low whisper the above words; and kept on urging his request till the father concluded with his usual amen. The above is no fable with which to point a moral. This same little boy is now a presiding elder in the M. E. church.

How often parents in their morning and evening devotions weary their children till they respond, as above, in their hearts. Some may inquire Who is to blame? parent or child? I fear it is the parent nine times out of ten.

A thousand susceptible little hearts have been taught imperceptibly to disrelish the family altar for no other reason than the one above mentioned.

Let those thus accustomed to lengthy prayers, read again the prayer taught by the Son of God, so short, so condensed; and remember that there is not a prayer in the Old Testament over five minutes in length. Contrast these with prayers of many Christians of the present day.

As dearly as I love prayer, I often find myself waiting for the closing amen. The prayer of the publican mentioned by our Saviour by way of contrast to the Pharisee’s, is very brief; and it might not be amiss were we to repeat, verbatim, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” He dared not lift up his eyes to Heaven as he repeated it, but with deep feeling of unworthiness, he smote upon his breast. Such petitions come from the heart, and how often such alone reach the heart of a sinful child.

It is evident that a greater amount of wisdom is needed in both family and public prayers. If our wants are numerous we may lengthen our prayers in close retirement before God, that the Spirit may help our infirmities; for we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The same caution might be given in regard to exhortation. An incident might be mentioned which occurred in 1844. A good brother rose up with his eyes full of tears. After standing a moment to gain better control of his feelings, he cried out with a full soul: Good, good is the word of the Lord, and repeated the same three times, giving a stronger accent to the word good each time, and sat down. Not a dry eye remained in the whole house. The blessing of Heaven fell like dew. Many wept aloud. This brother said all the Lord gave him to say, and sat down.

Brethren and sisters, if any of us lack wisdom, let us ask of God, who giveth liberally to all and upbraideth not, that all may know when to rise up, when to sit down, and when not to weary the heart of a little child by keeping back so long the desired amen.

MRS. M. C. TRUESDAIL.

Monroe, May 8, 1871.