CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
(STRENGTH AND
My Dear Children,
I remember, as a child,
being told to play a Piano-accompaniment for a celebrated violinist. The piece was easy, but I was the merest
stumbling beginner in music, and my previous attempts at accompaniment had been
received with rebuke even harder to bear than the “raps
on the knuckles” with ruler or scissors which had been my governess’
method of correction in earlier days! Yet,
as I tremblingly accompanied the great musician, a sense of comfort stole over
my soul, and the music went smoothly, for the magnificently strong and steady
notes of the violin supported my faltering piano. I went un-reproved, and my effort was kindly
accepted. What had seemed so difficult to do in companionship with a less perfect
partner, became possible when my meakness was linked
on to supreme excellence.
At
times, when brought into contact with
those gifted with earthly genius, we can trace in them some attribute which
dimly reflects an attribute of Him to Whom they owe all. For
instance, we find that the more skilful the workman, the more readily he is
able to “make do” with imperfect tools. I remember my mother being much amused because
Sir Edward Burne‑Jones, the
famous artist, had told her of the fine instruments (for ruling or measuring, I
suppose) which his son ‑ at that time a beginner in the art of painting ‑
possessed to aid him in his work, adding that for his part he used no such
tools, but managed with the edge of the newspaper! Young Christian, deeming your talents too
small to be worth consecrating to your Lord, listen :‑ If that which is itself of no account
becomes useful as an instrument when held in the hand of genius how much
more may the weakest redeemed sinner be used by the God of all Grace? “Ye see your calling,
brethren, how that not many wise after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen
the foolish things of the world to confound the
wise, and God bath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which
are despised, hath God
chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in His
presence” (Cor. 1: 26-30).
We
learn then, even in ordinary human experience, to associate gentleness and absence of scorn with strength and
superior attainment. Yet another
memory‑picture:- In girlhood, I
had an uncle whom I dearly loved, but of whom I stood in affectionate awe, as
of a kingly man of great and varied experience, and of, responsibilities which
touched the lives of many people. I was
once walking in the country with him and another gentleman, and, whilst they
talked business, I amused myself gathering a little posy of wild flowers which
– presently ‑ I brought for them to see. The
impression created in my mind by the difference in the manner of each has
remained with me through years. My
uncle’s companion, albeit kindly ‑intentioned, by his look seemed plainly
to say that such trifles ‑ though well enough for young ladies ‑
were beneath the consideration of men. But
my uncle, with gentle courtesy and true condescension, turning his attention
wholly from his business to the tiny bouquet, questioned as to the names of the
flowers as seriously as though the information were of importance to him, and by his kindness not only relieved the
feelings of his little niece, but also taught her a valuable lesson in courtesy.
If,
from gentleness in the earthly great, we turn to consider the gentleness of
God, what shall we say? Between the
greatest and least of human beings there is, after all, no more difference than
between longer or shorter blades of grass in a field viewed from above, whence
the whole is seen as level. “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower
of grass. The grass withereth,
and the flower thereof falleth away” (1
Peter, 1: 24). But how great the
gulf between the creature and his Creator - between a worm of earth and the
Maker and Upholder of the Universe ‑ a defiled sinner and the all-pure
and Holy One! In our fallen nature we
have no access to God. He is a
consuming Fire. But thanks be to God, a
way has been opened into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, and every soul who
avails himself of the atonement of that precious blood may say with David, ‑
“Thou hast given me the shield of Thy salvation: and
Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness
hath made me great” (Psalm 18: 35).
I
once asked a dear friend, from whom I have long been parted, - why in Psalm 130, verse 4 ‑ we find the apparent
contradiction: “there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest
be feared.” Perhaps,
explained my friend, without the
assurance of forgiveness, despair rather than reverential fear, would fill the
heart. To turn to God would seem
useless. But His gentleness encourages us. A child of God told me how at one time he was
so convicted of unfaithfulness to God that he felt sure punishment must come,
and he steeled his heart for the blow. God
sent - not punishment ‑ but a signal mercy, so that the steeled heart was
melted, even to tears! Truly, “THE LORD IS VERY PITIFUL, AND OF TENDER MERCY” (Jas. v, 11).
Your affectionate friend,
HELEN RAMSAY.