I WAS on my way to business, full of thought, and not a little anxious as to matters which pressed upon my mind, when I passed a boy, perhaps three or four years old. He was singing, and as I passed him I caught the words, which as near as I can give in his own language—
“Gentle Jesus, meet and mild,
Loot upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Teach me, Lord, to tome to Thee.”
Perhaps he only knew this verse, and singing it again and again, I caught it pretty clearly. It was only a little child; but the words from the infant lips which I heard turned my thoughts away from business and its cares to Him who said, “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.” These simple hymns learned in a Sunday school are often as tiny seeds sown, which in after years may bring fruit. This child’s song took me back to years long past, when, as a child as young as this one, I too learned of a Saviour’s love, for I am quite sure they were the seedlings of the truth which I was to learn in a fuller measure in after years. How often I thank God for the simple hymns taught me in childhood’s days in the Sunday school. Teachers may well take courage in their work of love, for they know not what blessing may flow from their labors.
What a privilege a Christian teacher has of thus directing the young heart to Jesus by the sweet and simple words of childhood’s hymns, while the heart is open for good, for in a few years the ear will catch, alas! too soon that which is bad. It is a blessed thing whenever we can do so to direct the young heart to Him, who when on earth said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” Those who learn of the loving God in early days have their hearts gladdened and made happy, and will be saved from many a bitter pang and many a scar by the buffeting of the evil one. We may not be able to do great things, but most of us have the opportunity of teaching infant lips to sing His praises.
ML 12/09/1917