WEMH #85 Daily sampler, I belong to Jesus Christ

9/14/2018

That title may seem like an odd podcast for a group learning about education, but when you listen, I hope it will make sense. I've been fielding a number of questions from moms lately who are concerned about nurturing faith in their children in our secularized society. I address that concern, while also giving you a Daily Sampler from the life of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China.

Art credit: Stained glass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California

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Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman
Christ and the Fine Arts by Cynthia Maus
(Do an Amazon search for additional copies)

3 Comments

Tasia Thompson

9/17/2018 02:34:18 pm

I love Gladys Ayleard: small woman. If all men and women were like Gladys the world would be a beautiful place! So inspiring.

Beckie

10/3/2018 02:39:33 pm

That is a beautiful story about the child and the father. Do you have a copy of it in print?

Marlene Peterson

10/3/2018 02:54:12 pm

A Parable by Jean Betzner

I took a little child’s hand in mine. He and I were to walk together for awhile. I was to lead him to the Father. It was a task that overcame me, so awful was the responsibility. And so I talked to the child of the Father. I painted the sternness of his face, were the child to do something that would incur the Father’s wrath. He walked under the tall trees and I said that the Father had power to send them crashing to the ground, struck by his thunderbolts. We walked in the sunshine, I told him of the greatness of the Father who made the burning blazing sun. And one twilight we met the Father. The child hid behind me; he was afraid. He would not take the Father’s hand. I was between the child and the Father, and I wondered. I had been so conscientious, so serious.

I took a little child’s hand in mine. I was to lead him to the Father. I felt burdened with the many things I had to teach him. We did not ramble; we hastened from one spot to another spot. We compared the leaves of the different trees. While the child was questioning me about it, I hurried him away to chase a butterfly. Did he chance to fall asleep, I awakened him; lest he should miss something I wanted him to see. I poured into his ears all the stories he ought to know, but we were interrupted often by the wind blowing, of which we must study; by the gurgling brook, which we must trace to its source. And then, in the twilight, we met the Father. The child merely glanced at Him and then his gaze wandered in a dozen directions. The Father stretched out His hand. The child was not interested enough to take it. Feverish spots burned in his cheeks. He dropped exhausted to the ground and fell asleep. Again I was between the child and the Father. I wondered. I had taught him so many things.

I took a little child’s hand in mine, to lead him to the Father. My heart was full of gratitude for the glad privilege. We walked slowly, I united my steps with the short steps of the child. We spoke of the things the child noticed. Sometimes we picked the Father’s flowers and stroked their soft petals and loved their bright colors. Sometimes it was one of the Father’s birds. We saw the eggs that were laid. We wondered, elated at the care it gave its young. Often we told stories of the Father. I told them to the child and the child told them again to me. We told them, the child and I, over and over again. Sometimes we stopped to rest, leaning against one of the Father’s trees and letting his cool air soothe our brow, and never speaking. And then in the twilight, we met the Father. The child’s eyes shone. He looked lovingly, trustingly, eagerly, up into the Father’s face. He put his hand into the Father’s hand. I was for the moment forgotten.

I was content.

The Well-Educated Mother's Heart
by Marlene Peterson

Out of the abundance of a mother's heart, families and homes are blessed and thereby the world is made more beautiful. I hope our time together will inspire and fill your heart. I welcome you here!