A Very Old Poem

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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HAVE YOU ever quarreled with your brother or sister? Many of us must answer “Yes” to that question. Children who lived 200 years ago quarreled too, but many mothers in those days would quote this little poem to their children when they quarreled:
Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
Man’s fall has made them so;
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
For ’tis their nature to.
Birds in their little nests agree,
But ’tis a shameful sight,
When children of one family fall out,
And chide, and fight.
Perhaps we may add these lines:
Let little ones who love the Lord,
From morning until night,
Delight to do the Saviour’s will,
And never quarrel or fight.
We should have two “bears” in our home — “bear,” and “forbear.” That means to have patience with others and be ready to forgive. We read in the Bible, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Col. 3:1313Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13).
Sometimes the reason why we cannot get along with our brother or sister is just because we want our own way. Now the Lord can help us to be kind to others if we ask Him, for if we know Him as our Saviour, we have a new nature which wants to please Him in everything. He will give us power to triumph over the old evil nature and keep it in the place of death, so that our new nature, which is Christ Himself, can shine forth.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” Rom. 12:1010Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (Romans 12:10).
ML-08/16/1970