Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

IMPORTANT GIFTS TO A CHILD

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

How deep and how lasting are some gifts to a child? In my early childhood, living conditions went from bad to worse! Coming off the heels of the Great Depression, our country was forced into WWII. Our family had nothing, but the bare necessities of life, love for the Lord, and for one another. So, we were rich!

Once for Christmas, mom managed to save enough to get me a set of small rag-paper Bible story books. How I loved them and managed to keep one of them into adulthood. She bought them from the Jewel Tea man who peddled his goods from a truck.

Another time my Sunday School teacher, Agnes Wolfe, (I think her name was Minton before marrying Charles Wolfe.) taught class in a curtained off section of the one room church building. She gave me and others boys and girls in the class a picture of the Last Supper colorfully printed on hardboard. What a treasure! Now, I am an old man and I still have that picture, and I treasure its meaning more and more, and I will thank Agnes again for it in heaven.

Agnes loved the Lord. She was a very kind lady who, though large, dressed up to come to church as though she were going to a New York banquet. Her gift to me came two years before I was saved. I cannot say how much influence it had on that decision, but I can say it was most impressive that someone would give me something so wonderful, and my heart was always open and tender toward the lovely Lord Jesus Christ.

They say such recollection is strong evidence of growing old. Maybe so. I just like to think of it as a marvelous trip down memory lane that affords so many places to stop and smile, and be thankful for God, and for others who indelibly impressed a little guy in good things along the way.

The world has changed drastically from the days of WWII. Now, the hustle and bustle of persistently overloaded folks might cause them to not give so much as a passing glance at an act of goodness and kindness to a child, but children have not changed. Surely, they have been spoiled with material abundance, but loving kindness, and sincere beneficial love has been all but stifled. Perhaps that is why it is still the deep, lasting impression to which they cling. It is the best gift you can give a child. Give it!

FOR THOUGHT: Do you think many children are spoiled today because parents are determined to give them more than they had? If giving children more material things and less personal attention, love, and training, is that a good thing? Years fly by so swiftly, and children are children for such a little time. Are you letting precious time slip away?