“Papa, do you think I’m old enough?”
“Old enough to begin to love and serve God? Are you old enough to love and obey me, and to trust me to take care of you?”
“Oh, yes indeed, papa! It seems to me I’ve always been old enough for that.”
“Then your question needs no further answer; if you can love, trust and obey your earthly father, so can you your heavenly Father also.”
“But I just can’t help loving you, papa,” she said, giving him another hug and kiss, which he returned, asking, “Why do you love me, daughter?”
“Oh, because you are my own father, and take good care of me, and give me every thing I have, and love me too; and because you’re so good and wise and kind.”
“And have you not all those reasons for loving your heavenly Father? He created you; therefore you are more his than mine; he has only lent you to me for a time; his kindness and his love to you far exceed mine, and my wisdom is not to be compared to his.”
“But, papa—”
“Well, daughter?” he said inquiringly, as she paused, leaving her sentence unfinished.
“I don’t think I can be a Christian with such a dreadful temper as I have. I shouldn’t think the Lord Jesus would want me for one of his children.”