The Spiritual World: Talks for Children by George de Charms

15.  Children in Heaven (2)

We have learned something about the little children who are called into heaven by the Lord to help make the angels happier, and to grow up there and become intelligent and wise so that they may perform some wonderful use in the service of the Lord. We pointed out in the last chapter how delightful is their life; how they have a beautiful home, a loving mother, wonderful playthings that are alive, and a school where they are taught by living pictures or representations. Their training is so wonderful that they all go into heaven. No little child that dies ever becomes wicked in the other world. But this does not mean that they are already good when they die. Nor does it mean that they do not have to fight against evil spirits there, even as we do here. They have evils, and these have to be corrected and cast out. They do what is wrong many times during the period when they are growing up in heaven; and when they do wrong they are sorry, and they repent and determine never to do it again. But the angel mothers are so wise, and they love the little children so deeply, that little by little they draw them away from all that is evil and help them to cast it aside.

Even then the evil is still there, and they have to be held from it constantly by the Lord through the angels who are with them. Sometimes they forget that this is true. Not knowing that they were born on earth, they feel that they are good, and that they could never do anything evil. And then the Lord permits them to leave their angel teachers, and they go away from heaven into the lower earth, where they meet with evil spirits. And as soon as they are among them the evil spirits tempt them, and they feel a strong desire to do what is evil - so strong that they are not able to resist it, and so they pray to the Lord and ask His help and His forgiveness for believing they were good and did not always need His help. Then He sends an angel, and drives away the evil spirits, and the little children return to heaven much more humble and able to receive a greater happiness from the Lord.

Now you may wonder why it is that some little children are called into the other world to enjoy all the beautiful things of which you have just learned, while others remain here on earth, to journey by the longer and harder way. All little children cannot go to heaven. Many must grow up to be men and women here on earth. If they did not the human race would perish; and if this should happen the heavens themselves would fall; the angels could not live. The fact of the matter is that only those are taken into heaven who can be of greater use there than if they were to stay on earth. Those who go to the other world have indeed a great use to perform; but we who remain here have an equally important work to do. That which makes them happy is not the beautiful houses, the wonderful playthings, nor even the wondrous things they learn from their angel teachers; but it is the use or work which they are able to do for the Lord by means of these things. It is this use, or this work that gives true happiness to everyone. And we also, having a use to perform, can be happy even though we have not yet all the things they have in heaven. Let us take, for instance, a little boy who has a birthday-party. All his friends have given him presents; and he has received a horn, a wagon, a little pony, and an automobile - all the things for which he has been wishing. If he is a selfish little boy and wants these things all to himself he will snatch them away from his friends, hold them tight, and cry and become very unhappy - even though he has all he could possibly want. But let us suppose that another little boy has a birthday. He is poor, and cannot have all the things that he longs for. But he is given one thing - let us say a tricycle, which he has wanted very much. At once he thinks of other little children who have no tricycle. He asks them to come to his house, and lets them play with his gift. They all take turns, and laugh and play happily together. That boy is much happier and has received much more from his birthday than did the other boy. So you see it is not gifts that count. It is what we do with them that really is important.

Now you little children who are here on earth have not, it is true, as many wonderful things as the children in heaven. And yet you have very much to make you happy. And if you will use the things the Lord gives you to make others happy, and to help in the great work for which the Lord has placed you here in this world, you will find that your days are filled to the brim with the delight and joy. Nor will your life be so very different from that of the little angel children; for though you do not see them, they will be with you, and you will feel their happiness. For they are really all around you, and if you will but open your hearts to the Lord He will give you the joy which He gives to them - only in a different way.

Especially is this true of you who are born into the New Church, and are given to know all the wonderful things about heaven. So many are the heavenly blessings which the Lord is now pouring out for you, through your parents and teachers, that you should be continually filled with thankfulness to the Lord, and you should pray that He may help you use these things in the right way for the fulfillment of His Divine Will. So far as you do this, you will also come to know the joy of heaven, and the delights of the little angel children.

Lesson: Matthew 18: 1-6, 14.

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