"LET THE LITTLE ONES COME UNTO ME."
By Mrs. A. W. Heald
THE question is often asked, "How much can young children understand of their relations to God?" Various answers are of course given, but it is safe to affirm that many of them comprehend more than we know. The following story of a real experience will serve to illustrate this:— Little Marie was a very willful child; one day she had been unusually troublesome, and at night when tucked snugly in bed, the following conversation ensued:— "Why has my little girl done so many naughty things to-day?" "O auntie, just because I like to do as I've a mind to." "But little children cannot do as they have a mind to. They must learn to be obedient and do as God wishes. Then God will be pleased with them, and when the blessed Lord Jesus comes, he will take them to dwell with him in Heaven." "Well, auntie, there is one way I can do as I am a mind to, I can want to do just as God wants to have me." This little girl had, all unknowingly, grasped the great truth of the liberty which is in Christ Jesus, the perfect freedom of a life wholly conformed to the will of God. Do we sufficiently realize our need of divine wisdom to instruct the dear children as to what God requires of his little ones? How much loving tenderness is needful on the part of parent or teacher! and how all-important it is to gain the confidence of the childish hearts, that they may freely speak their thoughts of God and spiritual things, giving us the opportunity to guide and instruct! The strong will need not be crushed, but may be so wisely directed as to render valuable aid in the service of God. The young hearts are tender and ever ready to respond to the love of Jesus, and if our Lord's commands are rightly presented to these little ones, how many will say, with little Marie, "I will want to do just as God wishes."