Childhood Pattern
While Ray and I chatted with a young couple recently, they related a simple story about a recent date they had. During their trip to a diner for breakfast, the food was excellent, the setting so so, and the atmosphere not so great. The problem with the atmosphere was this: as their server neared the end of her shift, her husband and child who was about two years old hung around the diner waiting for her to get finished. As they waited, the waitress’ husband yelled sporadically at their little boy.
The opinion of the young husband with whom we were visiting was that the problem was not with the little boy, but with his daddy. Like so many other parents, it seems that he was trying to control his little boy with his voice. While a parent’s voice is a useful tool in the training of little boys and girls, a voice alone is no substitute for careful, disciplined training of young children and living a godly life before them.
Today I want to share the next two verses of “Once in Royal David’s City.” As you read them, think about those times you have been in a public place and seen children treated the way that two-year-old little fellow was treated the other day. Compare the way you imagine he spends his days with the way Mrs. Alexander imagines the childhood of Jesus.
And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
For he is our childhood’s pattern;
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
When they had performed everything
according to the Law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own city of Nazareth.
The Child continued to grow and become strong,
increasing in wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:39-40