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Show OUR- CHILDREN By ANGELO PATRI A PLACE OF REFUGE IN THE ancient days there was a place of refuge provided for the thoughtless sinner. Here he might dwell with safety until he could be judged by the congregation. No hand might touch him while he lived within the walls of the city of refuga That seems to me to be a fine Idea. In this world of storm and stress there ought to be a place of refuge for every one of us that we might retire to meditate upon our errors and search our souls for ways of peace, amendment, and future fu-ture strength. This is especially necessary for the children. Their emotions are unguarded. They frequently fre-quently overflow the dams and cause sorrow and distress. At such times the place of refuge is a blessed bless-ed place for the child and those about him. When a little one loses control of himself and stamps and roars, Instead In-stead of shouting at him to be still, escort him to his place of refuge, his room, and leave him there to shout it out. The quiet of the room, the feeling of security its four walls lend his spirit, calm him and redirect him far sooner than any-liing any-liing you can do. The habit of retiring to his room vlien he feels himself slipping is a '.ne one to establish. It helps him o gain control over himself. It teaches him to find strength within himself. Little children have to be kept close to the grownups, so for them this place of refuge may be a secluded se-cluded corner where there is some object of beauty to hold and direct his thoughts to better ways. The older children need the quiet of their rooms. If they have to share the room each can have his own corner where his chair and his precious possessions occupy the larger space. It is so much better for a child to seek his own room than to make a scene in the family gathering. His dignity is enhanced, his personality supported, his spirit soothed, which are consummations devoutly to be wished. While we are about it let us remember re-member the place of refuge for ourselves. our-selves. Grownup people should be able to find It within their own selves but all of us are not grown up sufficiently for that at all times. We need the support of a good book, of prayer, of meditation. The tired mother needs the quiet hour. Burdened fathers need to find a place where they can drop their loads for a moment or two. The children must have a safe retreat where the hand of the law cannot reach them, a place where justice must stand outside the door. |
