Article June 15, 1912 Issue

A CHILD'S LOVE FOR THE BIBLE

NELLIE T. SHAW

One day my little son, seven years old, climbed into my lap and asked me to read him a Bible story. I told him to bring me his book of Bible stories, but he said, "Please, mother, read me a real Bible story from your Bible."

I at once saw that he was longing for a good story form its original source, and I gladly and gratefully complied with his request. He chose the account of the raising of Lazarus, that being one of his favorites, and I read the beautiful story as related in the eleventh chapter of St. John. When I had finished he sat lost in thought for a moment, then said, "Mother, it seems to me that Jesus knew the truth about Lazarus better than you and my Bible stories do." This awakened me to the fact that children love the truth in its purest and most spiritual setting, free from the coloring of mere human opinion. The Bible language is simple and beautiful, and the stories are so interesting that children love them and are often able to grasp their spiritual import more readily than do older people. As they get the message directly from God's Word, it makes a lasting impression of Truth's power, which they get only in part when the story is reconstructed.

This little experience brought home to me this lesson, that we all need to become more childlike. Children love spiritual facts, and accept them without doubt as the truth and endeavor to make them part of their lives. Those same Scriptural statements should be as plain to us, for they are no less true and beneficial to the adult than to the child. As we make them a part of ourselves, so shall we turn more readily to the divine source for guidance, realizing that "no wisdom is wise but His wisdom; no truth is true, no love is lovely, no life is Life but the divine" (Science and Health, p. 275).

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
LIFE ETERNAL
June 15, 1912
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit