CHILDISH FAITH | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 17, 1890

CHILDISH FAITH.

MRS. OWEN was a widow; poor, everybody said; but Elder Richardson said to his wife one day as they went away from calling on her, "I always find James 2:5 running in my head after a visit with her: 'Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?'"

If only Mrs. Owen could have known he said this of her, and just why he came to, I think she would have felt comforted and her faith strengthened this Sabbath morning, January 5, 1890, as she sat bathing the fevered brow of her baby girl, now almost six years old, but such a midget in size that she did not look more than four. The snow had come down in soft, fleecy whiteness one night a few days before, and playing in it Ruthie had taken a violent cold, so that not only did it prevent their going out to meeting, but brought anxiety to the mother's heart.

All the morning this scripture ran through her mind, "In everything give thanks." When the little hot hands would reach up and hold her mother's face for "a good kiss, mamma, for I am so hot," it came; when the cough would come and the voice so hoarse would say, "Water, my froat is so drwy," then it came, just the same; and when finally the little one dropped to sleep at last, it came still.

"O my Father, how can I? Teach me how, if I must!" she had murmured, and then she sat still, with the tears chasing each other thick and fast, till she saw her one other child come running home from meeting. Quickly wiping them away, she hastened to meet and quiet him, lest he should waken his sister.

"O mother, mother! we had a jolly meeting to-day, tell you what!" and his eyes over her lap, and looking into her face, he went on:—

"I never, never was to such a good meeting before; the man said it was just for young folks and childrens to-day, and so 'twas, but he told the old folks to stay and not hitch about, and run around, so's to 'sturb us, and they didn't. He told us religion was for us, just as soon as we really, really were sorry we were naughty. Jesus was ready to save us, and we don't have to wait to grow up to be big folks for it; I thought we did, and that's one reason why I've always wanted to be big so bad; that, and so's I could take care of you and Ruthie; how is she?"

"She is very sick, dear. I am anxious about her."

Rollie looked at his mother a long time; she wondered what he was thinking. "What is it, my son?"

"I was trying to think what the man told us about being that way what you are 'bout Ruthie; I know he said something about the Lord caring more than we do, but he didn't say it so. Mother, you know if I had minded you good, and brought Ruthie in quick out of the snow, she wouldn't have been sick. Can't God make Ruthie well?"

"If he chooses he can; 'with God all things are possible.'" She answered as if in a dream, wondering why she did not have faith enough to reach out to the Great Physician, as did the ruler of Capernaum, when Rollie broke in again:—

"You see Ruthie would have come in in a minute if I had; she would not have staid at all without me; I'm all to blame for her being sick."

"If my boy is really sorry he staid out longer, because it was wrong, I am sure God has already quite forgiven him." A radiant smile broke over his face.

"And if I ask God not to let Ruthie die, cause I am truly sorry, will he make her well do you suppose? Wouldn't you ask him if you were me?"

What did make Mrs. Owen wait again? Was it that she thought God would not listen to her child in his own and sister's behalf? Dared she tell him no, and quench the rising faith and hope in his child heart? While she hesitated he went on:—

"You know, mother, he told us to-day, that man did, that we must never forget to pray for everything we needed; he said God heard good boys and girls just as quick as he did good men and women, for he wouldn't disappoint little folks, not at all, if he could help it, not once, if we asked for good things and was clear through and through sorry for every naughty, bad thing we had ever done. I'm sorry, I know. Wouldn't you ask him if you were me, mother?" And already, in his intensity of desire to have all consequences of his disobedience done away with, and Ruthie made well, he had clasped his chubby hands together and stood, half turned toward his little chair, waiting her answer.

Quick came the remedy of the man's own words, by "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Rollie caught the words, and in an instant was on his little knees, praying,—

"Dear God in heaven, I am sorry I didn't mind mother all the times, and that I made you feel so bad, and you're better than everybody to forgive me so much, and I know if you would do that you will make my poor little sister well, so that we can both love you together, and mind always better, after now; do it quick, won't you please? For Jesus' sake. Amen."

And before his mother could get her breath from astonishment at his own made-up prayer, he had risen with a beaming countenance and glad smile.

"O mother, seems as if I heard him say, 'All right, Rollie, I'll do it.' Let's go see if she isn't well!" and he fairly pulled her into the sitting-room, where she had left Ruth asleep not twenty minutes before. She raised up as they entered, and looked almost as bright as her brother, and cleared her throat:

"My froat don't hurt like it did, mamma."

"Of course it don't, and pretty soon it will be every bit well, 'cause I asked God," Rollie said.

"I am hungry, can't I have some toast, mamma?"

But the mother was speechless; had she been dreaming, or was she dreaming still? Surely a remarkable change had taken place in Ruth's condition within the space of a few minutes, and she could not, would not, doubt that God had honored her child's, not her own, faith, and answered his simple petition "even while he prayed." She felt her own faith increase, and her heart sang, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," as she hastened to the kitchen to prepare the first meal Ruth had taken any interest in for several days.

Rollie ran from sister to mother, talking all the time. "O Ruthie, I love God, and you, and everybody more than I ever did before. He made you better the minute I asked him. If I hadn't been naughty and kept you out in the snow you wouldn't have been sick, but I was so 'shamed and sorry I guess God pitied me; the man said to-day, if we wanted God to answer our prayers we must not think he wouldn't, and I didn't a bit; I wanted you to be made well so very much I just knew God would say yes instead of no, and he did, and you are almost well; when you get your dinner and be dressed you will be."

Ruthie did not know it, but there was something besides cream on her slice of toast; it was two great salt tears that fell out of her mother's eyes as she bent down to take it from the hearth—glad, happy tears, for in that hour her child had taught her more real simple faith than she had learned in all her Christian experience before. He had taken God at his word, and his simple faith had received the blessing. Oh, the blessings that wait for the children of God, if they would but learn how to believe; if they would not by their unbelief make him a liar—that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?***