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From Heaven With Love
cross He remembered His own mother. He is touched today by the
mother’s sorrow. In every grief and need He will give comfort and
help.
He who said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and
forbid them not,” still invites mothers to lead 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.
Jesus saw that some of the children who were brought in contact
with Him would become martyrs for His sake. These children would
accept Him as their Redeemer far more readily than many grown-up
people. The Majesty of heaven answered their questions and simpli-
fied His important lessons to meet their childish understanding.
An Example to Mothers and Fathers
Children are still the most susceptible to the teachings of the
gospel; their hearts are strong to retain the lessons received. Little
children may be Christians, in accordance with their years.
Fathers and mothers should look on their children as younger
members of the Lord’s family, committed to them to educate for
heaven. The Christian home becomes a school, with the parents as
underteachers and Christ Himself the chief instructor. We should
teach our children to bring their sins to Jesus, asking forgiveness and
believing that He pardons them as He received the children when
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He was personally on earth.
As the mother teaches her children to obey her because they love
her, she is teaching them the first lesson 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.
Jesus was also the father’s example. His word was with power;
yet even with rude and violent men He did not use one unkind or
discourteous expression. The grace of Christ in the heart will soften
whatever is harsh and subdue all that is coarse and unkind. It will