NEARLY every child is fond of animals and they like to make pets of them, take care of them and feed them; just like the girl in our picture who is feeding her two goats. How gentle they seem, and not at all afraid of the little girl because they know she is kind to them. Yet there are some children, generally boys, who are very unkind to animals and will treat them badly, and I have noticed some boys even kick goats. They know they would not like to be treated that way themselves nor would they be apt to love the one who would do so to them.
As I write about kindness and gentleness my thoughts go to the Lord Jesus Christ and there alone one is enabled to see these traits in perfection. He never treated anyone unkindly. Sinners were always made welcome. He never told the sinner to go away from Him, but He said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). And again He said, “Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:1414But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14). Such love as His not only draws us to Him, but causes us to love Him, so the Scripture says, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). He has loved us so much that He has given His life for us. We deserved to be forsaken of God for ever and ever, because our sins would hinder us from dwelling in God’s presence, so He was forsaken in our place when He had our sins laid upon Him in the three hours of darkness on Calvary’s cross. Was it not wonderful love that He should be willing to take that place for us? Ah, surely it was. It then will cause us to love Him if we believe it, not only so, but it will cause us to be kind and gentle in our ways, both to one “another and to the animals around us, for we must think how loving Jesus has been to us and we will seek to be like Him in all our ways.
ML 11/05/1916