--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often, no doubt, it will appear…" description: "\"“Often, no doubt, it will appear otherwise, for the childlike child is easier to save than the other, and may come first. But the rejoicing in heaven i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/george-macdonald-295_children_often-no-doubt-it-will-appear-otherwise_1438787.jpg" --- # Often, no doubt, it will appear otherwise, for the… ![“Often, no doubt, it will appear otherwise, for the childlike child is easier to save than the other, and may come first. But the rejoicing in heaven is greatest over the sheep that has wandered the farthest—perhaps was born on the wild hill-side, and not in the fold at all. For such a prodigal…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/george-macdonald-295_children_often-no-doubt-it-will-appear-otherwise_1438787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/george-macdonald-295_children_often-no-doubt-it-will-appear-otherwise_1438787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/george-macdonald-295_children_often-no-doubt-it-will-appear-otherwise_1438787.jpg) > ““Often, no doubt, it will appear otherwise, for the childlike child is easier to save than the other, and may come first. But the rejoicing in heaven is greatest over the sheep that has wandered the farthest—perhaps was born on the wild hill-side, and not in the fold at all. For such a prodigal, the elder brother in heaven prays thus—" Lord, think about my poor brother more than about me, for I know thee, and am at rest in thee. I am with thee always.”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion should extend beyond those we find easy to love; the greatest joy is for the lost and wayward. **In simple terms:** Love should include even the hardest to reach. Key Takeaway Practice unconditional love for all, especially the estranged. Themes compassion forgiveness spirituality family Mood hopeful empathetic Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - family counseling - religious outreach - personal growth Key Concepts theology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What prevents us from loving the 'lost' as much as the 'easy'? - How can we cultivate empathy for those who seem far away? A Different Perspective The story of the elder brother shows jealousy can cloud true compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother-heaven-4501794/) [Brother In Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother-in-heaven-218024/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Elder Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elder-brother/) [Heaven Prays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-prays-4912990/) [Lord Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-think-1816183/) [Prays Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prays-lord-5143817/) ## Related quotes > [“Now think, my brother, you will be in Heaven very soon. Since last year a great number have gone home: before next year many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/now-think-my-brother-you-will-be-in-heaven-very-soon-since-last-year/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“When you pray, all heaven prays with you. That's a mighty army.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-heitzmann/when-you-pray-all-heaven-prays-with-you-that-s-a-mighty-army/) [Kristen Heitzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-heitzmann/) > [Never turn back to see the result of what you have done. Give all to the Lord and go on, and think not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/never-turn-back-to-see-the-result-of-what-you-have-done-give-all-to/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Lord, I think I made a mess of things. So I am placing the whole situation in your hands. Do with it what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-brownback/lord-i-think-i-made-a-mess-of-things-so-i-am-placing-the-whole/) [Lydia Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-brownback/) > [A famous monk once said, I don't always know what the right thing to do is, my Lord, but I think the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/a-famous-monk-once-said-i-don-t-always-know-what-the-right-thing-to/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [All during the day, in the chinks of time between the things we find ourselves obliged to do, there are the moments when our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-laubach/all-during-the-day-in-the-chinks-of-time-between-the-things-we-find/) [Frank Laubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-laubach/) > [Do not just ask the Lord, but also think about what the Lord asks of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-takabha/do-not-just-ask-the-lord-but-also-think-about-what-the-lord-asks-of/) [Rio Takabha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-takabha/) > [Lord, may I think what you want me to think. May I desire what you want me to desire. May I speak as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-poveda-castroverde/lord-may-i-think-what-you-want-me-to-think-may-i-desire-what-you-want/) [Pedro Poveda Castroverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-poveda-castroverde/) > [When I was in the hospital, everyone was worried for me, and I realised that I had to do something in my life so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/when-i-was-in-the-hospital-everyone-was-worried-for-me-and-i-realised/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [Jesus lives! the same comforting, helping, instructing, loving Elder Brother, as when John leaned on His bosom, as when He lifted Peter up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/jesus-lives-the-same-comforting-helping-instructing-loving-elder/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [“S., a clever and truthful man, once told me the story of how he ceased to believe. On a hunting expedition, when he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/s-a-clever-and-truthful-man-once-told-me-the-story-of-how-he-ceased/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [My elder brother is a lecturer in a college in Haryana, and my eldest sister was a teacher. I feel they are more educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangram-singh/my-elder-brother-is-a-lecturer-in-a-college-in-haryana-and-my-eldest/) [Sangram Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangram-singh/) > [If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/if-you-wish-to-succeed-in-life-make-perseverance-your-bosom-friend/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [My first introduction to chemistry came at a quite early age through my mother's elder brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wilkinson/my-first-introduction-to-chemistry-came-at-a-quite-early-age-through/) [Geoffrey Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wilkinson/) > [“If you wish success in life, make perseverance you bosom friend, experience your wise councellor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/if-you-wish-success-in-life-make-perseverance-you-bosom-friend/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. 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No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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