Article September 3, 1927 Issue

The Father's Arms

WILLIAM B. HIGGINBOTHAM

A little girl who lived in the country was searching for her father. She heard his answer to her call, and following the sound of his voice came to an open trap door in the floor of the big barn. Standing near the edge of the opening she called again and heard the tones of his loved voice telling her to jump, for he would catch her. She hesitated, saying, "But, daddy, it's all dark down there and I can't see you!" The loving assurance came back in response: "Father can see you, and is standing waiting with open arms. Jump, daughter." The child obeyed, and was immediately clasped in his strong embrace and then tenderly lowered to the floor.

Pondering this incident we are led to contemplate the ever-readiness of our heavenly Father to enfold us in His loving care. His Word assures us that "underneath are the everlasting arms." Becoming as little children, trustfully reaching out for His protection, we prove the availability of His power.

The innocence of children may be erroneously thought of as ignorance. Illiterate they may be until they have a school experience; but innocence is not ignorance. Jesus proved this in his own experience in the temple, where, we are told by Luke, at the age of twelve he was found by Joseph and his mother "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." And the writer of the third Gospel goes on to say, "And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." The Master emphasized it when he reproved the disciples for seeking to forbid the children to approach him. He knew that it was their innocence which responded immediately to his knowledge of God; that it was the receptiveness of their clear, innocent thought which recognized the healing and protective power of his spiritual thought. Jesus saw the opportunity to impress the lesson on the listening assembly and perpetuate to coming generations the essential quality of the childlike thought as a prerequisite to knowledge of the kingdom of heaven.

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