HOW many of the little boys and girls who read Messages of Love, have watched the ants on a bright warm day in spring or summer? A great many of you, I am sure.
Around the ant hole you saw a little mound or heap of something. What was it? Where did it come from? Now watch very closely the ants as they run in and out of the hole. Each one carries out a tiny grain and leaves it on the heap around the hole. Then it hurries back to get another grain.
Yes, it was the little ants that built the mound. One by one they brought up the grains, until, after a great many trips, there were enough to make this little mound.
But why do they make these mounds and where do they get the grains?
They are making a little store-house down under the ground. The grains are small particles of earth. They dig these out and bring them up out of their way. This leaves some space down below for the rooms of their house. Here they have a place of refuge; here they take care of the young, and here they store up corn, seeds, and other kinds of food.
Perhaps, you have noticed, too, how quickly they run in and out.
Do you think we can learn any lesson from the ants?
There is a verse (Proverbs 6:66Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: (Proverbs 6:6)) which says: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” A sluggard is a lazy person. But the ants are not lazy. They are busy all the time, running back and forth, making their houses, and filling them with food.
So God tells us we can learn a lesson from the ants, for He does not want us to be lazy. There is always something for willing hands and feet to do. Even little children can run errands for Papa and Mamma and help them with a great many little things.
If we want to be like the busy little ants, we can always find something good to do something that will be pleasing to God, and helpful to those about us.
ML 05/24/1903