A Courtroom Scene

By Harold Mitchell

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     I sat in court yesterday. I listened while our county judge heard testimony which caused him to find a mother of nine children unfit to rear her brood. The testimony established that she was neglectful of her duties and obligations to the children.

     I watched the children--Beverly, Robert, Donald--and on down the line, each one sitting quietly, watching, looking, listening, wondering, and all of them questioning, "What is going on here?"

     Then I heard the judge begin to call the names of other members of our community. It sounded as if he were going through our congregational directory. The members of our congregation were there

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in court to take the custody of all nine of those children. Some of the families were young, others were old, but all had one thing in common, a deep concern for the future of these children.

     And then it was over. People were getting up. I became aware of a hurting in my chest, a lump began to swell in my throat, my eyes became glassy with tears. The children were saying good-bye to their mother. This woman who had deserted, neglected and failed her children was still loved by them all.

     Our church is not unusual. In fact, we are quite normal, but we are earnestly trying to be where the action is. I do not know what will happen to these children, but I do know that we have some people who care. Others have given more money, gained more publicity, etc., but I remember that, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."

     (Editor's Note. Harold Mitchell labors with the Church of Christ, Tenth and Grant Streets, Beatrice, Nebraska, and we wish to add our commendation to the action of these fine saints and our brethren, in stepping into the breach so effectively, as outlined in Harold's presentation above. This is real service of the Master).