Character and Conduct – 5 September – Death of Young Children

On an Early Death, TRENCH

WHEN one comes to the loss of young children – a sad perplexity – let it not be forgotten that they were given.   If in the hour of bitterest grief it were asked of a bereaved mother whether she would prefer never to have possessed in order that she might never have lost – her heart would be very indignant.   No little child has ever come from God and stayed a brief while in some human home – to return again to the Father – without making glad that home and leaving behind some trace of heaven.   A family had counted themselves poorer without those quaint sayings, those cunning caresses, that soft touch, that sudden smile.   This short visit was not an incident:  it was a benediction.   The child departs, the remembrances, the influence, the associations remain.   If one should allow us to have Sarto’s Annunciation for a month, we would thank him:  when he resumed it for his home he would not take everything, for its loveliness of maid and angel is now ours for ever.   And if God recalls the child He lent, then let us thank Him for the loan, and consider that what made that child the messenger of God – its purity, modesty, trustfulness, gladness – has passed into our soul.

The Potter’s Wheel, Dr. JOHN WATSON

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These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing them here readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.