The poem, “Are All the Children In” is powerful: “I think oft- times as the night draws nigh, Of an old house on the hill, Of a yard all wide and blossom starred Where the children played at will. And when the night at last came down Hushing the merry din, Mama would look around and ask, “Are all the children in?”//Tis many and many a year since then, and the old house on the hill No longer echoes to childish feet And the yard is still, so still. But I see it all, as the shadows creep//And though many the years have been since then, I can still hear my mother ask, “Are all the children in?”//I wonder if when the shadows fall on our last short, earthly day, when we say good-bye to the world outside, all tired from our childish play. When we meet the Lover of boys and girls, who died to save them from sin, Will we hear him ask as mother did, “Are all the children in?” Jesus made it clear–He cares deeply about children. We read in Luke Chapter 18 that He rebuked His disciples when they tried to stop parents from bringing their children to Him. We honor our Lord when we care for children and help them know and love Jesus.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
