"But when it comes to a conflict between a mother and child, a mere
baby like Kitzie, ought the Lord of heaven and earth to be expected to
interfere?"
"Let us judge Him out of His own mouth. Recall His language as He moved
about on earth among just such beings as we are. He says, distinctly,
that He feeds the fowls of the air, sees to the growth of the lily
of the field, that no sparrow falls to the ground without His notice
and consent, and that He takes such personal interest in each of His
children that He knows exactly how many hairs we each have in our
heads. Can the tenderest mother say anything like this?"
"It is very puzzling."
"No, my dear, it is very simple. It is just taking God at His word.
Now, you sent for me, a mere mortal, fallible woman, to sympathize with
and help you out of an emergency. Do I then love you better than your
Father does? Am I any more ready to come to your rescue than He is?"
"Do you mean, then, that we are not to seek human counsel, but just go
to Him about everything?"
"No; I believe also in taking counsel of flesh and blood. The answer
to your prayer for light must come from God, but He often sends those
answers through human agency. And so I am very glad you sent for me
to-night. I love to be intrusted with His commissions. And now don't
you think we ought to go down and join the rest of them?"
As they entered the library, every one took a hasty glance at their
faces, and the tranquil expression of each satisfied what anxiety they
had felt. The next day was Sunday, and quite a procession set off for
church. Margaret came last of all, leading her beloved little Mabel by
the hand. The child had never been to church before, and her mother
thought taking her there such a doubtful experiment, that when Margaret
proposed it, she demurred a little. Finally, she consented to her
occupying a seat whence she could be easily removed, if troublesome.
Then she made her stand at her knee, took her hands in hers, and said:
"Mabel, darling, we are all going to God's house, because we love Him,
and He wants us to come."
"Yes, mamma."
"And it isn't like other houses; people who go there do not go to talk,
and laugh, and play; they go to pray to God, and sing to Him, and
hear about Him. And it isn't nice for little children to fidget and
whisper while that is being done. And if I let you go to His house this
morning, I shall expect you to sit still, and not to say a word."
"Yes, mamma. Will Christ be there?"
This child, through her whole life, invariably spoke of God as Christ.
"Yes, dear, He will be there, and will look at my little Mabel, and
know if she is quiet. But you will not see Him; no one does that."
And then turning to Margaret, she said:
"Have you ever taken a little child to church?"
"Oh, no! I wasn't born among such luxuries."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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