Thou hast perfected praise!
As some of you may have read a couple of my grandsons have been hurt recently. When the four-year-old was being seen by the doctor he did not move or cry out but clenched his fist and did exactly what the doctor told him. His father and I were amazed at his determination not to cry out and to obey what the doctor said. From 9 o’clock in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon he was poked and prodded and x-rayed, and put into a sling without complaining. As a reward we decided to take him to Dairy Queen as it is his favorite place to eat. He said he would say the prayer over the meal, and commenced asking God to help him get better and then raising his head slightly, he said “what’s his name ? oh yeah, and make Uncle D. better too, Amen.” Then he began to eat his chicken nuggets while trying not to fall asleep. It’d been a long strenuous day but he remained in good spirits and we couldn’t help but feel proud.
The Bible tells us: to train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it. It is time like these moments when we begin to see the fruit of our labor. Here’s a small four-year-old child not thinking only of himself but for someone else who is also suffering and asking for healing for that other person.
Children are often labeled as simple or gullible, because they are trusting and they believe people who are speaking to them are doing so without guile. It is the way God commands us to have faith in Him, to trust and believe what He tells us, and know He is doing so with our best interest in mind, and without guile. It is the same way in which Jason asked how long he had to wear this thing, (the sling) and accepting what he was told with disappointment but obedience, knowing for him to do so will make him heal better and faster.
Why is it so hard for adults to listen and know that what God tells us is good for us? Why do we have such a hard time with obedience? Since when did we learn more or know more than God does? That is why the Bible repeatedly tells us to have childlike faith, to take the things God tells us as truth the way they are stated and believe them. We often don’t necessarily like what the Bible says and there are some people who will change it to what they think better suits today’s society. The Bible has very grave warnings about changing so much as one dot or one tittle, and those are merely punctuation marks.
While my other grandson does not recall as much about his injury, as it was to his head and caused him to black out or become unconscious for a few moments, but he was still obedient to his mother and the doctor during his time of infirmity. I have to be careful here because the Bible also says: pride goeth before a fall, and I am proud of the behavior of both of my grandchildren in their time of adversity, and realizing that in their tender age their parents are giving them a solid foundation in faith in God and obedience.
As parents we would be well advised to follow the teachings of the Bible when rearing our children and grandchildren. It has been a stellar example with unfathomable successes from the beginning of its writing until now, of how to raise children, in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The Bible says: “out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.” I think Jason’s prayer was a very tiny example of that statement, being unselfish and caring for others.
We as authors would do well to give such timeless advice to our readers. We can only hope that some of the words we put down in script will prove to be a lasting impression for good in this world. This can only happen if we have a firm foundation of faith beneath our feet.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:3-6
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Mark 10:13-15
And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Matthew 21:16