Article December 6, 1930 Issue

The Littlest Ones

VIRGINIA DIXON WARTENBE

Humanity's greatest need to-day is to know God. God is good, and to recognize spiritual good is to know God. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." As our Master went from place to place he told the multitudes who gathered around him about God and of His power to heal. He also took a little child and, placing him in the midst of his disciples, spoke to them of the needful qualities that would prepare them for the kingdom of heaven. Little children may have problems as important to them as ours are to us. As we realize this we become aware of what it means to direct them aright, and of what a sacred privilege it is to be given any duty that affects the children's well-being.

What a privilege we have as mothers and fathers, as teachers and friends, when we accept opportunities to learn more and still more about God, and to apply the teachings of Christian Science so that we may be prepared to bring to the littlest ones all they may need to add to their spiritual growth and development. The little ones of to-day will be the men and women of tomorrow; and the future of the home, the community, the state,—yes, the world,—will depend in great measure upon what the children are and do as they unfold into manhood and womanhood. This thought is being constantly emphasized by educators and philanthropists; and the laws of our land, as well as the laws of other lands, express the recognition of spiritual unfoldment as most beneficial to character building.

When studying this interesting subject, we shall receive much inspiration and understanding if we will turn to the Bible and follow the history of the life of Jesus from his birth to his ascension. Mary, his mother, was able to accept her spiritual responsibility because of her purity of thought; and for the same reason she was able, under divine direction, to guide, guard, and protect the child Jesus. We can picture his passing from childhood to boyhood and to manhood. We can see him when, later, the multitudes gathered around him as he went about his Father's business, healing the sick and the sinning and raising the so-called dead. It is not difficult, either, to realize how tenderly he must have welcomed the little children who came running to him, as children always do when they are attracted to good. In Mark it is recorded that he said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God;" and the record also tells us that "he took them up in his arms ... and blessed them." Nearly two thousand years have passed since that time, and although many of Jesus' teachings and works were for a period forgotten, the spirit of his ministry never left us.

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