There Is Something About Children…

There is something about children that softens our hearts, and searches our soulsinnocent, honest, teachable, trustingthe children of all the world, worldwidethose of whom our Savior said, “Except ye…become as little children, ye shall not enter… the kingdom of heaven.”¹ One should not rest well, it seems, with thoughts of children hungry, of children hurt or helplessof children unwanted, cruelly treated, uncared for; children neglected or abused. One should not rest well, it seems, with thoughts of children growing up in ignorance; not taught of God, of life, its purpose; not taught of cleanliness, honesty, morality; of children warped in their ways by the neglect or bad example of adults. There are those who sometimes say they are looking for a shining cause. Let them turn to the cause of seeing that children are taught and cared for. Let them begin where the problems begin, and where results would most surely be seen. Oh, the haunting sight of seeing children old before their age; of seeing children hurt amid the hazards of a careless world; hurt by dangers that adults have left within their reachdangers little understood by those who run and roam and want to try all things, and little think but that the world is safe and sure. “Every child,” said President McKay, “has the right to feel that in his home he has a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world.”² One should not sleep well while children are left unloved and lonely. God bless and watch over little children, and bless us to love and understand and teach and care for them, and give them all we can of wholesomeness and happiness. A prayer of Arthur Guiterman may bring a gentle smile, with perhaps a tear or two:

“God bless all little boys who look like Puck,

With wide eyes, wider mouths and stick-out ears,

Rash little boys who stay alive by luck

And Heaven’s favor in this world of tears.”³

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“I think when I read that sweet story of old,

When Jesus was here among men,

How He called little children as lambs to His fold,

I should like to have been with Him then.”⁴