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Helpless Poor
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should be associated in families, and a child’s nature will develop
best in the loving atmosphere of a Christian home.
Many who have no children of their own could do a good work
in caring for the children of others. Instead of giving attention to
pets, lavishing affection upon animals, let them give their attention
to little children, whose characters they may fashion after the divine
similitude. Place your love upon the homeless members of the
human family. See how many of these children you can bring up in
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the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Christians who do this will
be greatly benefited themselves.
The Elderly
Older people also need the helpful influences of the family. If
they no longer have their own home, the blessings and influences
thus lost can best be made up in the home of fellow Christians.
Encouraging them to share in the interests and occupations of the
household will help them feel that they are still useful. Make them
feel that their help is valued, that there is something yet for them to
do in ministering to others, and it will cheer their hearts and give
interest to their lives.
So far as possible, those who are near the end of life’s journey
should remain among friends and familiar associations. Let them
worship among those whom they have known and loved. Let them
be cared for by loving and tender hands.
Whenever the members of a family are able to do so, they should
count it a privilege to minister to their own kindred. When this
cannot be, the work belongs to the church, and it should be accepted
both as a privilege and as a duty. All who possess Christ’s spirit will
have a tender regard for the feeble and the elderly.
The presence in our homes of one of these helpless ones is a
precious opportunity to cooperate with Christ in His ministry of
mercy and to develop traits of character like His. There is a blessing
for both old and young in associating together. The young may bring
sunshine into the hearts and lives of the aged. Those whose hold on
life is weakening need the benefit of contact with the hopefulness and
buoyancy of youth. And the young may be helped by the wisdom
and experience of the old. Above all, they need to learn the lesson of