The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 56: Blessing the Children
This chapter is based on Matt. 19:13-15; Mark
10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.
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Wherever the Saviour went, His kind countenance and
gentle, kindly manner won the love and confidence of children.
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Jesus was ever a lover of children. He accepted their
childish sympathy and their open, unaffected love. The grateful praise from
their pure lips was music in His ears, and refreshed His spirit when oppressed
by contact with crafty and hypocritical men. Wherever the Saviour went, the
benignity of His countenance, and His gentle, kindly manner won the love and
confidence of children. {DA
511.1}
Among the Jews it was customary for children to be brought
to some rabbi, that he might lay his hands upon them in blessing; but the
Saviour's disciples thought His work too important to be interrupted in this
way. When the mothers came to Him with their little ones, the disciples looked
on them with disfavor. They thought these children too young to be benefited by
a visit to Jesus, and concluded that He would be displeased at their presence.
But it was the disciples with whom He was displeased. The Saviour understood
the care and burden of the mothers who were seeking to train their children
according to the word of God. He had heard their prayers. He Himself had drawn
them into His presence. {DA
511.2}
One mother with her child had left her home to find Jesus.
On the way she told a neighbor her errand, and the neighbor wanted to have
Jesus bless her children. Thus several mothers came together, with their little
ones. Some of the children had passed beyond the years of [512] infancy
to childhood and youth. When the mothers made known their desire, Jesus heard
with sympathy the timid, tearful request. But He waited to see how the
disciples would treat them. When He saw them send the mothers away, thinking to
do Him a favor, He showed them their error, saying, "Suffer the little
children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of
God." He took the children in His arms, He laid His hands upon them, and
gave them the blessing for which they came. {DA 511.3}
The mothers were comforted. They returned to their homes
strengthened and blessed by the words of Christ. They were encouraged to take
up their burden with new cheerfulness, and to work hopefully for their
children. The mothers of today are to receive His words with the same faith.
Christ is as verily a personal Saviour today as when He lived a man among men.
He is as verily the helper of mothers today as when He gathered the little ones
to His arms in Judea. The children of our hearths are as much the purchase of
His blood as were the children of long ago. {DA 512.1}
Jesus knows the burden of every mother's heart. He who had a
mother that struggled with poverty and privation sympathizes with every mother
in her labors. He who made a long journey in order to relieve the anxious heart
of a Canaanite woman will do as much for the mothers of today. He who gave back
to the widow of Nain her only son, and who in His agony upon the cross
remembered His own mother, is touched today by the mother's sorrow. In every grief
and every need He will give comfort and help. {DA 512.2}
Let mothers come to Jesus with their perplexities. They will
find grace sufficient to aid them in the management of their children. The
gates are open for every mother who would lay her burdens at the Saviour's
feet. He who said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid
them not," still invites the mothers to lead up their little ones to be
blessed by Him. Even the babe in its mother's arms may dwell as under the
shadow of the Almighty through the faith of the praying mother. John the
Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. If we will live in
communion with God, we too may expect the divine Spirit to mold our little
ones, even from their earliest moments. {DA 512.3}
In the children who were brought in contact with Him, Jesus
saw the men and women who should be heirs of His grace and subjects of His
kingdom, and some of whom would become martyrs for His sake. [515]
He knew that these children would listen to Him and accept Him as their
Redeemer far more readily than would grown-up people, many of whom were the
worldly-wise and hardhearted. In His teaching He came down to their level. He,
the Majesty of heaven, did not disdain to answer their questions, and simplify
His important lessons to meet their childish understanding. He planted in their
minds the seeds of truth, which in after years would spring up, and bear fruit
unto eternal life. {DA
512.4}
It is still true that children are the most susceptible to
the teachings of the gospel; their hearts are open to divine influences, and
strong to retain the lessons received. The little children may be Christians,
having an experience in accordance with their years. They need to be educated
in spiritual things, and parents should give them every advantage, that they
may form characters after the similitude of the character of Christ. {DA 515.1}
Fathers and mothers should look upon their children as
younger members of the Lord's family, committed to them to educate for heaven. The
lessons that we ourselves learn from Christ we should give to our children, as
the young minds can receive them, little by little opening to them the beauty
of the principles of heaven. Thus the Christian home becomes a school, where
the parents serve as underteachers, while Christ Himself is the chief
instructor. {DA 515.2}
In working for the conversion of our children, we should not
look for violent emotion as the essential evidence of conviction of sin. Nor is
it necessary to know the exact time when they are converted. We should teach
them to bring their sins to Jesus, asking His forgiveness, and believing that
He pardons and receives them as He received the children when He was personally
on earth. {DA 515.3}
As the mother teaches her children to obey her because they
love her, she is teaching them the first lessons in the Christian life. The
mother's love represents to the child the love of Christ, and the little ones
who trust and obey their mother are learning to trust and obey the Saviour. {DA 515.4}
Jesus was the pattern for children, and He was also the
father's example. He spoke as one having authority, and His word was with
power; yet in all His intercourse with rude and violent men He did not use one
unkind or discourteous expression. The grace of Christ in the heart will impart
a heaven-born dignity and sense of propriety. It will soften whatever is harsh,
and subdue all that is coarse and unkind. It will lead fathers and mothers to
treat their children as intelligent beings, as they themselves would like to be
treated. {DA 515.5}
Parents, in the training of your children, study the lessons
that God has given in nature. If you would train a pink, or rose, or lily, how
would you do it? Ask the gardener by what process he makes every branch and leaf
to flourish so beautifully, and to develop in symmetry and loveliness. He will
tell you that it was by no rude touch, no violent effort; for this would only
break the delicate stems. It was by little attentions, often repeated. He
moistened the soil, and protected the growing plants from the fierce blasts and
from the scorching sun, and God caused them to flourish and to blossom into
loveliness. In dealing with your children, follow the method of the gardener.
By gentle touches, by loving ministrations, seek to fashion their characters
after the pattern of the character of Christ. {DA 516.1}
Encourage the expression of love toward God and toward one
another. The reason why there are so many hardhearted men and women in the
world is that true affection has been regarded as weakness, and has been
discouraged and repressed. The better nature of these persons was stifled in
childhood; and unless the light of divine love shall melt away their cold
selfishness, their happiness will be forever ruined. If we wish our children to
possess the tender spirit of Jesus, and the sympathy that angels manifest for
us, we must encourage the generous, loving impulses of childhood. {DA 516.2}
Teach the children to see Christ in nature. Take them out
into the open air, under the noble trees, into the garden; and in all the
wonderful works of creation teach them to see an expression of His love. Teach
them that He made the laws which govern all living things, that He has made
laws for us, and that these laws are for our happiness and joy. Do [517]
not weary them with long prayers and tedious exhortations, but through nature's
object lessons teach them obedience to the law of God. {DA 516.3}
As you win their confidence in you as followers of Christ,
it will be easy to teach them of the great love wherewith He has loved us. As
you try to make plain the truths of salvation, and point the children to Christ
as a personal Saviour, angels will be by your side. The Lord will give to
fathers and mothers grace to interest their little ones in the precious story
of the Babe of Bethlehem, who is indeed the hope of the world. {DA 517.1}
When Jesus told the disciples not to forbid the children to
come to Him, He was speaking to His followers in all ages,—to
officers of the church, to ministers, helpers, and all Christians. Jesus is
drawing the children, and He bids us, Suffer them to come; as if He would say,
They will come if you do not hinder them. {DA 517.2}
Let not your un-Christlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do
not keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness. Never
give them cause to feel that heaven will not be a pleasant place to them if you
are there. Do not speak of religion as something that children cannot
understand, or act as if they were not expected to accept Christ in their
childhood. Do not give them the false impression that the religion of Christ is
a religion of gloom, and that in coming to the Saviour they must give up all
that makes life joyful. {DA
517.3}
As the Holy Spirit moves upon the hearts of the children,
co-operate with His work. Teach them that the Saviour is calling them, that
nothing can give Him greater joy than for them to give themselves to Him in the
bloom and freshness of their years. {DA 517.4}
The Saviour regards with infinite tenderness the souls whom
He has purchased with His own blood. They are the claim of His love. He looks
upon them with unutterable longing. His heart is drawn out, not only to the
best-behaved children, but to those who have by inheritance objectionable traits
of character. Many parents do not understand how much they are responsible for
these traits in their children. They have not the tenderness and wisdom to deal
with the erring ones whom they have made what they are. But Jesus looks upon
these children with pity. He traces from cause to effect. {DA 517.5}
The Christian worker may be Christ's agent in drawing these
children to the Saviour. By wisdom and tact he may bind them to his heart, he
may give them courage and hope, and through the grace of Christ may see them
transformed in character, so that of them it may be said, "Of such is the
kingdom of God." {DA
517.6}
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"One Thing Thou Lackest"
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