Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and GirlsChidley, Howard J. (Howard James)
Religion
Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and Girls
Chidley, Howard J. (Howard James)
Children's sermons
But the biggest sacrifice hit that was ever made was made by Christ when
He was crucified on Calvary, in order that the world might know that God
was a Father and loved His children.
And every boy and girl who would follow in the footsteps of Christ, and
would be strong and noble, must be prepared to make sacrifice hits,--to
forget themselves and do things for the sake of others. Jesus said, "I
came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." And a minister is one
who serves, one who makes sacrifice hits.
THE LIBERTY OF OBEDIENCE
I know it would seem strange if I told you that every boy and girl has
to be tied to something in order that he may be free. And yet that is
the exact truth.
The majority of you no doubt know what the multiplication-table is, and
I am sure you have thought it a pretty disagreeable thing. Perhaps you
have wondered why seven times eight is always fifty-six, and why your
teacher insists that it shall be that every time. You don't see why it
can't be fifty-five just once, or possibly fifty-seven. But, no, sir; it
is _always_ fifty-six.
When you get farther along in life I believe you will be glad to know
that seven times eight is _always_ fifty-six, whether you meet it in the
grocery-store, or in the bank, or in New York, or in Philadelphia, or in
China; for it will be a comfort to know that the multiplication-table
does not change, like many other things, as you go from place to place.
Whenever or wherever you meet it, it is always the same. Now, because
you were tied to that table as a boy or girl, you will be free to go
where you like with it in after-life.
The same is true about riding a bicycle. You know that in order to be
free to ride a bicycle you must obey the rules of riding it; that is,
when you are in danger of falling to the right you must turn the front
wheel to the right. If you do not, you will fall off.
Here again, you see, you must be tied in order to be free.
You will find that a rule all through life. That is why your parents and
teachers lay down so many rules for you. It is not because they want to
hedge you in and torment you, but that you may be free men and women
later.
Boys and girls who are never tied up, sooner or later find that as men
and women they are not free. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, would
not be tied up to any rules as a girl. She was wilful and wild, so in
later life she caused the death of her husband and herself.
That same rule is even true of stars. Comets are tramp stars. They
refuse to be tied up, and they ramble about all over the sky. So they
never have trees and flowers on them. Our earth, on the other hand, is
tied up to the sun and goes round it like a horse round a racetrack, and
so it is bound by seasons and brings forth beautiful trees and flowers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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