A Note to Our Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
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.” Mark 10: 13-14
I had the honor of getting to know a dear sweet lady a few years ago. Though a precious, weathered saint of God, she never preached great flowery sermons; never won a city full of heathens to Jesus; she never impressed anyone that I know of with being all that spiritually mighty. But what I learned from knowing her was God’s perspective of His little children. He doesn’t keep score the way we do…He’s looking on the heart. No one took note as she faithfully read her little devotional book and bowed on her knees to the Lord Jesus beside her bed most every morning for fifty years to ask God to somehow get her through each trying day. She was never the Bible teacher at church; she always went to worship and learn. But the Lord gave me the honor of seeing into this magnanimous soul. There I found a rare, solid-iron, death-defying faith in her Savior. The time came for me to stand, shocked, beside what I knew to be her deathbed. I asked God what I could say. I felt He didn’t want ME to say anything. I asked HIM what HE wanted to say. He replied in His tender way to my heart, “Suffer my little child to come unto me.” I wrote this poem that night.
The Little Ones of the Master
by Jerry Johnson
They’re precious, innocent, trusting, sublime:
Little ones of the Master,
Unaged by the passing of time.
Believing beyond any hope of reason:
Little ones of the Master,
Warmed from within, this winter season.
Passing their mem’ries, their faults and cares,
Little ones of the Master
Feel pain only their Father shares.
A moment’s suffering a lifetime long,
Little Ones of the Master
Bear their cross with a silent song.
Touching everyone, holding no one firm,
Little ones of the Master
Lean on Him their hopes to confirm.
Wordless, they defy the doubts of mankind:
Little ones of the Master
Are a shout of eternal rhyme!
Bold at the threshold of Destiny’s door:
Little ones of the Master,
Childlike, embark from mortal shore;
For they, most clearly, hear the call from across the sea
To the little ones of the Master:
“Suffer My little children to come unto me.”
Copyright © 1995, by Gerald T. Johnson. All Rights Reserved. Copies permitted for non-profit nursing home ministry.
Surely, those who labor in the mission field of nursing home ministry have met many of God’s precious “little ones.” They smile through their loss and pain. They are quick to pray. They are hard to offend. They love all who cross the threshold of their room. You always feel as though you were blessed by the one you sought to be a blessing to. They are overjoyed to see you every time you visit. What a privilege to have the opportunity to be in some small way an encouragement to them!
And, to all of our fellow children of God in Christ Jesus, we say “Thank you for helping us with your prayers and donations. You are an encouragement to us! We are grateful for your vital assistance.”
Love in Christ,
Jerry and Dar Johnson