Jeremiah 8

Why Sit Still?

Why do we sit still? Jeremiah 8:14.

Perhaps you think this is a funny sort of text, and that it isn't a bit suitable for boys and girls. There is a question you are much more accustomed to hear, especially if you are very small, “Why do you not sit still?” You have been asked to be quiet for a short time while mother tussles with her weekly bills, or father writes a business letter, or big brother works out a difficult sum, and you do try very hard for a minute. But something tickly seems to come in your legs, and before you know it you are fidgeting about on your chair or bobbing on and off it, until the grownup person says in a rather annoyed tone, “Can you not keep still for five minutes?” Well, of course you can't. Moving about is just part of the way you grow, and you can no more help moving than you can help growing. The best thing to do is to get something quiet to do, something that won't disturb the big people a story-book to look at, or a dolly to dress, or a puzzle to puzzle out, and then the fidgeting and the bobbing will stop without your knowing it.

And yet I think boys and girls, yes, and grown-ups too need very much to ask themselves this question,

“Why do we sit still?” Because very often we sit still when we should be jumping up and getting busy.

1. Sometimes we sit still when there is somebody to help, and that is not a good sort of sitting still. The other day I travelled in a subway car with two well-dressed little girls of ten and twelve. It was a busy hour, and the car filled rapidly. By degrees most of us who were young and strong had given up our seats to older people, but these two little girls sat still. At last there entered a sweet, frail old lady with silvery hair and cheeks like a rosy apple, and the little girls still sat still. And a quite middle-aged woman with a tired face rose and gave the old lady her seat.

Now I expect these children weren't really selfish or unkind: they just didn't think. But I want you to take trouble to think. Get into the way of looking out for the good turns you can do. You would be surprised how many there are if you just watch for them. Don't sit still if there is an errand to run, or a door to open, or a bundle to carry, or somebody to help out of a difficulty.

There is a fine story told of the Prince of Wales when he was in France with the King a few months after the War began. King George had been reviewing troops at various points, and the Prince had accompanied him wherever he went. One day the King had been distributing decorations to the troops at some distance from General Headquarters. The day was very wet, and before the royal party got back night had fallen.

On the return journey a slight accident befell the Prince's car, but it was able to proceed slowly. Later it passed a lonely soldier trudging along in the rain without either cap or coat. The Prince at once stopped the car and questioned the man. When he found that the poor fellow had been left behind by a supply train he not only insisted on taking him back to Headquarters in his car, but he gave him his own coat to wear. It is just these little thoughtful kindnesses that have made our Prince so much beloved.

“Tom,” said a father to his lazy son, “did you ever see a snail?” “Yes, father,” said Tom. “Ah, then you must have met it, for you could never have overtaken it!” And I'm afraid some of us are slower than snails when there is some little helpful kindness waiting for us to do.

2. But there is another bad way in which we sometimes sit still, and that is in not interfering to prevent wrong or injustice. You would not go the length of tormenting a kitten, or hitting a fellow smaller than yourself, or spreading a nasty story about somebody. But do you try to rescue the kitten the other boy is tormenting, or stand up to the bully who is fighting that little chap, do you refuse to listen to an unkind tale? Sometimes we can do as much harm just by sitting still and looking on as by actually doing the hurt.

And, boys and girls, the world is full of wrongs that are waiting to be righted just because people are too selfish, or too lazy, or too comfortable to trouble themselves to rise and right them. Some of these wrongs are waiting for you to deal with. Will you just sit still and let them be, or will you resolve, with God's help, to do your little part to put them right?