Mr. Hawkins, the gypsy evangelist, while holding meetings at Leamington, had an experience that impressed on him the importance of taking children seriously.
He had given a rather lengthy Bible lecture and decided not to have an after meeting. However, he invited any anxious souls to wait behind after the meeting if they wished. The large congregation filed out, and no one appeared to be waiting. He put his Bible away and prepared to leave. Then he noticed two little girls and a boy who obviously desired to be spoken to.
“Hallo!” he said. “What do you want?”
“We want to give our hearts to Jesus,” was their reply.
Mr. Hawkins pulled out his watch and said: “It is very late. You had better go home. We have a special children’s meeting on Friday. Come back then, and we’ll have a talk about the matter.”
At this the boy began to cry. “Oh,” he said, “I deliver papers on Friday and can’t come to the meeting. I would like to be saved tonight.”
Instantly Gypsy Hawkins saw his mistake and said to the little fellow, “You’re right, and I’m wrong.”
They had a little talk together in which Mr. Hawkins made the way of salvation clear and simple for these dear children to understand. Then they all knelt down in the aisle and there on their knees each of the three accepted the Lord and confessed Him as their Saviour. That young boy became an earnest Christian, grew up to be a preacher of the gospel, a well-known and respected servant of Christ.
Gypsy Hawkins never forgot that rebuke ministered quite unconsciously through that little boy at Leamington. Ever after that he was most careful to deal with all children who showed the least desire to trust in Christ. He was used to lead boys and girls to the Saviour in many parts of the world.
So the little children’s chorus is true,
“I’m not too young to come to Jesus,
For He loves a little child.”
The Lord Jesus tells us in the gospels, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones.” Matt. 18: 10.
ML 12/24/1967