SOME THOUGHTS ON CHILDREN

 

SOME THOUGHTS ON CHILDREN

A world without children is unimaginable. It is children who grow up and become men and women. They are the future generation of every country. Is it not enchanting to see new-born children, perfectly pious and innocent?

For four to five years after their birth, children  are so innocent that we want to go on looking at them, play with them, walk with them, talk with them and spend a lot of our time with them. Their innocence is remarkable. Their smiles are matchless. Their laughter is inimitable and their speech is as truthful as that of an angel.

A house without children is like a garden without flowers.

The English novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870)  said  : I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing, when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.

Another English novelist Ann Eliza Bray (1790-1883) expressed her feelings about children in these words: Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow ---the wholesome warmth necessary to make the heart-blood circulate healthily and freely; unhappiness ---the chilling pressure which produces here an inflammation, there an excrescence, and worst of all. “the mind’s green and yellow sickness’---Ill temper.

Children need affectionate and generous parents; a good company of other children; toys to play with; a number of joyful outings; nourshing food; easy  illustrated books and beautifully play and nursery schools for elementary education.

Remember that teachers cannot take the place of mothers. Even a thousand teachers cannot take place of one mother.

Look at the following words of  Mary Howitt, the  American poet and writer (1799-1888): “God sends children for another purpose than merely to keep up the race ---to enlarge our hearts; and to make us unselfish and full of kindly sympathies and affections; to give our souls higher aims; to call out all our faculties to extended enterprise and exertion; and to bring round our firesides bright faces, happy smiles and loving, tender hearts. ----My soul blesses the great Father, every day, that he has gladdened the earth with little children.

To conclude this question by the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus (died 135 AD) :  Who is not attracted by bright and pleasant children, to prattle, to creep, and to play with them?

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G.R.Kanwal

4^th January 2025