I think, when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,
That His arms had been thrown around me,
And that I might have seen His kind look when He said,
Let the little ones come unto Me.
Yet still to His foot stool in prayer I may go;
And ask for a share in His love;
And if I thus earnestly seek Him below,
I shall see Him and hear Him above.
But thousands and thousands who wander and fall,
Never heard of that heavenly home;
I wish they could know there is room for them all,
And that Jesus has bid them to come.
In that beautiful place He has gone to prepare
For all who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children shall be with Him there,
For of such is the kingdom of heaven.
I long for the joy of that glorious time,
The sweetest and brightest and best,
When the dear little children of every clime
Shall crowd to His arms and be blest.
Jemima Luke, 1841
Read Matthew 18:2-6
“The Sweet Story of Old” may be an unfamiliar hymn, but it invites us to place ourselves in the Biblical account of Jesus blessing the children. If we quickly surveyed what event people would most want to have witnessed or been a part of, I’m not sure this one would be very high on the list. We, perhaps like the disciples, may quickly pass over this encounter and move on to the lost sheep. Humility and dependence are keys to walking with Christ. May we never lose sight of that.
