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
It may seem that the wording of some of these sermons is beyond the
grasp of the children for whom it was intended. Two things are to be
noted in this connection. First, a child resents being talked down to.
He soon detects a condescending smile and mock affability in a speaker.
And when he detects these he closes the door of his heart against the
message. Second, it is better to give the child something to grow to,
provided it is not too far beyond his grasp. But here again experience
is the best criterion. The children who have heard these sermons have
enjoyed them, and have carried their substance and lessons home with
them to repeat to older ears.
They are offered to the public, therefore, in the hope that they may
suggest a method, add a little to the scant supply of material for
children's sermons, and serve to interest other children as well.
H.J.C.
_Orange, New Jersey._
A BIBLE-RIDDLE
Boys and girls are all fond of riddles, and I am sure you will be
surprised to know that there is one of the best riddles of all in the
Bible, one that is very hard to guess, and yet one that has a fine
lesson in it when I tell you the answer.
This riddle was told by Samson on his wedding-day, and nobody would ever
have guessed it if his wife had not let the secret out.
But first I must tell where Samson got his riddle. Well, one day with
his father and mother he was walking down the road to the land where the
Philistines lived. And according to the story, a young lion rushed out
at him from behind some bushes, and Samson, being a very strong man,
broke its jaws and killed it, and left its carcass behind some bushes by
the roadside.
Some time afterward he was going down that road again, and he turned
aside to see what had become of the carcass. And what do you think he
found there? This: a swarm of wild bees had made their nest in that
carcass. Now, Samson was fond of honey, and he took the comb of honey
with him and ate it as he walked along the road. And as he walked he
made up this riddle: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the
strong came forth sweetness." That means that out of this lion which
would have eaten him up he got something to eat, and out of this strong
beast he got something sweet.
I suppose you will wonder what sort of lesson for boys and girls anyone
can draw from that. You say you will never meet a lion on the roadside.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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