HOW TO MAKE THE SABBATH A DELIGHT TO CHILDREN.
By Mrs. Z. A. Adams
I HAVE frequently been asked the question, "How do you manage to make the Sabbath a delight to your children?" and have also been asked to give some suggestions upon this point, to which I have replied, "I scarcely know what to suggest, for, although I have four children, I have never had any occasion for perplexity on this score, for the Sabbath is, and always has been to me and my children, 'a chief delight,' a precious boon, its advent always hailed with a glad welcome. Day of all days the best." On one occasion, upon being asked this question, I replied, "When I have opportunity to do so—for I was then absent from home—I will ask my children how it is or why it is they love the Sabbath so much; then I will be better prepared to answer your question in their own words." Accordingly, at the first favorable opportunity, I called them into my presence and said: "Children, I have been requested to tell why it is you take such delight in the Sabbath, why you enjoy it so much. I thought you could best answer for yourselves. I wish you to give me your own reason. Why is the Sabbath such a delight to you?" After a moment's pause, the eldest, in a reverential manner replied, "Because the especial blessing of God always comes with it in our home, our Sabbath evening devotions, our Sabbath school, our meetings, and all through our pleasant study and talks and walks heaven seems so near." Six-year-old Delbert then said: "I know; 'cause we are doing just what the Lord did. He kept the Sabbath." "Yes," said eight-year-old, "that is it. And he made it so nice, and blessed it and sanctified it." Then twelve-year-old daughter said in a quiet, solemn manner, "I cannot give the whole reason, but it is so sacred and blissful and peaceful and happy and so delightful." These answers, though short and containing but few words, expressed much, though perhaps they come short of satisfying the inquiry, the query being, "How shall we spend the Sabbath with our children, how amuse and entertain them, how interest and instruct in a pleasant yet profitable way?" I may not be able to mention any new or untried plan as to how this may be done, but the various ways in which it may be done—and all to the glory and praise of Him who has given us this day of blessings—are legion. This subject, like every lesson and circumstance in life, is two-sided; and as we all like best the pleasant side of the picture, though it be but a word picture presented in homely language, we will consider it. And as actual experience is practically profitable, while untried plans or imaginary methods could but prove valueless, we will give account of how we have observed the Sabbath with our children for nearly twelve years, during which time it has been, as before stated, a welcome visitor, hailed with delight. We have ever endeavored to impress upon the minds of our children the thought that it was infinite love that gave us the Sabbath; that it is a special gift, given for a special purpose, with an especial blessing pronounced upon it, of which everyone is a recipient who appreciates this fact; and that, being especially blessed and sanctified holy time, an especial preparation is necessary or due on our part that we may properly and acceptably observe the day thus set apart for man, and designed for a special blessing "throughout all your generations." When the Lord was about to meet with the children of Israel upon Mount Sinai, he instructed Moses to see that a special preparation be made on the part of the people that they might be ready for the occasion. Ex. 19:10, 11. As it was the presence of the Lord on that occasion that made it one of sacred solemnity, so it is the presence of the Lord in the Sabbath that makes the day holy. Children readily understand these things when they are presented to them in that simplicity which characterizes the word of God throughout. Our children take the word of God as we give it to them. They take it as we make it. Oh, that parents might so talk of God's word before their children that they would learn to appreciate its lovely simplicity, and let their children do the same! It was the simplicity of Christ's gospel that made it so precious to the common people, the unlearned, and ignorant. It is only as children—and grown people too—grasp in simplicity the story of God's great love that that love is responded to, and a glad, willing, happy service of love rendered to him in return. Only let us learn and teach our children that all God's dealings toward us are in love, and that the Sabbath is a token of that love, and that as we accept and receive the Sabbath, we accept and receive Christ, who is the Author and Creator of the Sabbath and all things, then will our children joyfully engage in the necessary preparation on the sixth day—according to his word—that will meet the approbation of the Lord. In quiet and order, with songs of praise and grateful hearts, will they be ready to greet the commencement of the holy Sabbath at the going down of the sun. Having previously set the house in order, and each member of the family refreshed themselves with a good bath, and provided with clean clothes—and this may be done in the humblest cottage or even sod house—the chairs, stools, or boxes, as the case may be, are neatly arranged, the table is drawn into the center of the circle, and upon it are placed the Bibles, hymn books, and lesson papers if desired. Let the children understand that it is their privilege to select the song for the commencement of the evening's devotions, or, if parents suggest, let it be with care that the selection be appropriate to the childish understanding. It is well to repeat some or all of the words, and talk together of their meaning, not in a listless, but appreciative, enthusiastic manner, ever holding forth170the love of God. The devotional exercises for the evening consist of songs of praise, a family social meeting, which brings love and unity, tenderness of heart and contrition of soul, thus bringing in a spirit of prayer, and in which the children are encouraged to bear testimony and offer prayer, indeed, made to feel that much depends upon the part they act in the bringing in of the blessing of God; then the repeating of Scripture texts, a consideration of the lessons for the day, and a Bible story by way of illustration, an evening song, the 'good-night' talk, and committing of ourselves to our Father. Thus ends the eve of the commencement of the delightful Sabbath. An evening thus spent and the sweet rest in slumber, with the perfect confidence of the child that the angel of the Lord is watching over him, can but bring a quiet, happy awakening with the dawn of the Sabbath morning, attended by gratefulness and thanksgiving to God for renewed mercies, and the privileges that each Sabbath brings. Through the day we attend the Sabbath school, in the church or home, the other services, the pleasant walk or ride to and from church, we behold the Creator and Redeemer in everything around us,—the singing birds, the growing grass and trees, the fragrant flowers, the flowing stream, the grain and vegetables, the fuel and water, food and raiment, sunlight and air, and time would fail me to speak of the many, many things which we see around us, and each furnishing a text, an illustration of God's love. Call the attention of the children to all these things. Ask God to help you to draw from each a lesson for yourself and child. Do not fear you will exhaust these resources. This cannot be done. A lifetime of Sabbaths thus spent will not do it, but each day will bring with it new ideas, new truths, new illustrations, new developments, new views of God's goodness and infinite love, to talk about to your children, that will fill them with the desire to love God more and more, and serve him better and still better, and be made more like him; and, joyful in the thought that he is soon coming to take us to be ever with him and be privileged to go up from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, to worship before him in the New Jerusalem (Isa. 66:22, 23), where the Sabbath will be everyone's delight.