Restoring Childhood: Pandita Ramabai

READ: ISAIAH 40:11; MATTHEW 18:10-14; 1 TIMOTHY 4:12

In a perfect world, childhood should be filled with play, exploration, and the love of family. However, that has not always been the case. For example, child marriage used to be common in India. The first laws in 1891 set twelve as the youngest age a girl could marry. Often, a young girl would have to marry a much older man. And, if her husband died, she was likely to be verbally assaulted, blamed, forcibly shaved, starved, and, in extreme cases, burned alive on her husband’s funeral pyre.

But God did not forget these child widows. No, He called Pandita Ramabai—a native Indian, former Hindu woman—to bring healing and restoration to them. Born in 1858, Pandita Ramabai was a scholar who spoke seven languages. Orphaned and widowed, she became a Christian in 1883. Jesus’s love compelled her to help these child widows, so she opened schools, built homes, established a printing press, and purchased a farm (which saved thousands during years of famine). She also translated the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek into their language, Marathi. Her mission was to allow child widows to live as a family, saying:

“They come from homes where they have been treated as outcasts, where no love has been bestowed upon them and no comfort provided for them. I wish them to see the contrast in all things where love rules. I wish them to become acquainted with as many good people as possible, to learn what the outside world is about from pictures and books and to enjoy the wonderful work of God as they ramble in the garden, study with the microscope and view the heavens from the little veranda on the roof.”

For this cause, Pandita Ramabai gave her life, her energy, and her ceaseless prayers, relying on God all the way. She said, “Depending altogether on our Father God, we have nothing to fear, nothing to lose, and nothing to regret. The Lord is our Inexhaustible Treasure!” • Abigail Aswegen

• Pandita Ramabai once wrote, “People must not only hear about the Kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless.” Where have you seen the Kingdom of God in actual operation? If you can’t think of any examples, consider asking God to help you notice His kingdom coming in your life.

• Where might God be inviting you to use your gifts in His kingdom?

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)