A few years ago, my little girl sometimes got up feeling cross in the mornings. You know how it is when any member of the family does not get up in a good temper; it disturbs the rest of the family. Well, one morning she got up and spoke in a cross way, and I said, "Emma, if you speak in that way again, I shall have to punish you."
Now it was not because I didn't love her, it was for her own good.
Well, that went off all right, but one morning she woke up in a bad mood again. I said nothing, but when she was getting ready to go to school she came up to me and said, "Papa, kiss me."
I said, "Emma, I cannot kiss you this morning." She said, "Why, Father?"
"Because you have been cross again this morning. I cannot kiss you."
"Why, Papa you've never refused to kiss me before."
'Well, you have been naughty this morning." "Why don't you kiss me?" she said again. "Because you've been naughty. You will have to go to school without your kiss."
She went into the other room where her mother was and said, "Mamma, Papa doesn't love me. He won't kiss me. I wish you would go and get him to kiss me."
But her mother said, "You know, Emma, that your father loves you, but you have been naughty."
So she couldn't be kissed, and she went downstairs crying as if her heart would break.
I could not keep down my own tears, and I think I loved her more at that moment than I ever had. When I heard the door close I went to the window and saw her going down the street weeping. I didn't feel good all day. I believe I felt a good deal worse than Emma did, and I was anxious for her to come home.
How long that day seemed, and when she came home at night and asked me to forgive her, how gladly I kissed her, and how happy she went upstairs to her bed.
It is just the same with God. He loves you, and when He chastises you it is for your own good. If you will only come to Him and tell Him how sorry you are, how gladly He will receive you. How happy you will make Him, and oh, how happy you will be yourself.