Article January 6, 1917 Issue

The Child in the Midst

MARY I. MESECHRE

On page 323 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy declares, "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea." What unspeakable comfort to the weary struggler toward a hitherto distant and seemingly unattainable goal, to learn that simply willingness to become as a little child enables him to be as a little child, and ushers him into the freedom and gladness of conscious filial relation with our Father-Mother God.

When our Master would offer to his disciples a merited rebuke of their self-seeking and worldly ambition, he did not voice his reprimand directly, as was and is the usual method of those who recognize the necessity of warning a wrong-doer from his mistaken course, but, as was his custom, he spoke in parables, departing therefrom only to the extent of using an animate illustration. He called a little child and set him in the midst.

We can easily imagine this child, leaning in happy confidence against the Master's knee, looking lovingly into his face or glancing wonderingly at the changing expressions on the weather-beaten countenances of the men who circled them. We can readily conceive that Jesus may have questioned the little one, eliciting replies so artless, loving, and unselfish that they disclosed to the listeners the intent of the colloquy and enabled them to hear understandingly the later message to be uttered for their benefit. With a little imagination we may picture the scene when at length, dismissed with a loving smile, the child bounded away to rejoin his playmates, turning now and again for another glimpse of the new friend, while the Master said, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."

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