Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them to him, and said, Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. When I was at Dhoas, writes a missionary's wife, my husband opened the new chapel, which holds one hundred and fifty people. Sixty-five persons were baptized; among the rest several women. I proposed meeting them alone on Tuesday evening. One very nice-looking woman had a sweet-looking girl at her side, about ten years old. I said, "Amah, would you like me to teach your daughter?" With an indescribable look of tenderness she drew her to her side, and putting her arm around her, said, "This is my only one." "Have you not had more children?" I asked. "Ah I yes, ma'am, I have had six; but they are dead. Yes, they all died, five of them, one after the other; they all died." "And you, poor thing, how sorry you must have been!" "Heigh-ho! how sorry! Too much trouble! took; too much expense. After the first died I took sacrifices to the temple, and made worship to the idol, and told him I would give him all I could if my second might live; but he died. Then my heart was very sore; and when my third came, I went to a guru, and took a cloth, and fowl, and rice; and he said muntrums, and made pujah (worship); but no, that child, he died. My heart was like fire, it burned so with sorrow. I was almost mad; and yet I tried some fresh ceremony for every child." "What did you think had become of the spirits of your children?" I asked. "You knew their bodies died, but did you think much of their spirits?" "Ah! that was the thing that almost made me mad. I did not know. I thought perhaps one devil took one, and another took another; or perhaps they were gone into some bird, or beast, or something, I did not know; and I used to think and think till my heart was too full of sorrow." "But, Amah," I replied, "you do not look sorry now." With a look almost sublime, she said, "Sorry now! Oh, no, no! Why, I know now where my children are. They are with Jesus. I have learned that Jesus said, 'Suffer little children to come unto Me.' My sorrow is all gone, and I can bear their not being with me. They are happy with Him, and, after a little while, I shall go to Him too, and this little girl, my Julia, and my husband too." (A. G. Thomson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. |
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