To Christian Parents, Beloved in the Lord:
I think I may address you thus, as these pages are only meant for those who belong to HIM, and that bond makes us all one family: all dear to each other. So bear with an old man who would like to pass on to some of the younger members of that great Family a few of the lessons he has tried to learn from the merry children who once were in his home, but now are far away.
Perhaps I should have said they were lessons which our Divine Teacher (Matt. 23:88But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. (Matthew 23:8), New Translation) had sought to teach through His Holy Word; and that also would be true. It may be that our Lord uses both His Word, and the children, to teach these lessons truly; so that we do not know them in theory only.
You have seen a child that finds some lesson terribly hard: perhaps the teacher has turned it back more than once, and all the page is blotted with tears before it is learned. Some of these pages have been blotted with tears; and I am not at all sure that all the lessons that the writer is trying to pass on to you have been learned.
Do not think he writes because of any imagined superiority. He does not: some of these lessons have caused so much pain that finally in anguish of heart he put the whole thing away, and determined to have nothing more to do with it. And there it lay for several years, like a discouraged child that hides its exercise book because it shows so plainly the blots, mistakes and failures.
But it would not be hidden like that, so finally he had to get it out and try to finish it up. You will not read far before you will guess that these pages were written only for certain special eyes to see: eyes that many a time have “looked love to eyes that met again;” and so you must pardon the freedom and intimacy of the style; for nothing has been changed. This little book would not be offered to you now, but for the fact that, as “our beloved brother Paul,” puts it: —“I am a debtor....”
We are in the “perilous times” foretold in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:11This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)); and it is not easy to bring up our children. The Lord Himself says: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.” (Isa. 1:22Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. (Isaiah 1:2)). Alas, there is that in the hearts of our children (and in us also), that causes them naturally to turn in the wrong direction; and only the grace of God is sufficient for the parents’ need. Thank God, He reckons our children “holy”, (1 Cor. 7:1414For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (1 Corinthians 7:14)); and He says, “My Grace is sufficient.” If these pages should prove an encouragement, or a signpost of warning, to some young parent, how thankful I would be! May the God of Hope be with you, dear fellow-parent.
“A Grandfather”