350
Child Guidance
you are fully satisfied. The health and souls of those you love are in
peril, which makes this matter of the greatest importance. Determined
watchfulness and close inquiry, notwithstanding the attempts to evade
and conceal, will generally reveal the true state of the case. Then
should the mother faithfully present this subject to them in its true
light, showing it degrading downward tendency. Try to convince them
that indulgence in this sin will destroy self-respect and nobleness of
character, will ruin health and morals; and its foul stain will blot from
the soul true love for God and the beauty of holiness. The mother
should pursue this matter until she has sufficient evidence that the
practice is at an end
Avoid Haste and Censure as You Begin—You may inquire, How
can we remedy the evils which already exist? How shall we begin
the work? If you lack wisdom, go to God; He has promised to give
liberally. Pray much, and fervently, for divine aid. One rule cannot
be followed in every case. The exercise of sanctified judgment is now
needful. Be not hasty and agitated and approach your children with
censure. Such a course would only cause rebellion in them. You
should feel deeply over any wrong course you have taken, which may
have opened a door for Satan to lead your children by his temptations.
If you have not instructed them in regard to the violation of the laws
[459]
of health, blame rests upon you. You have neglected important duty,
which result may be seen in the wrong practices of your children
Instructing With Self-possession and Sympathy—Before you
engage in the work of teaching your children the lesson of self-control,
you should learn it yourself. If you are easily agitated and become
impatient, how can you appear reasonable to your children, while
instructing them to control their passions? With self-possession and
feelings of the deepest sympathy and pity, you should approach your
erring children and faithfully present to them the sure work of ruin
upon their constitutions if they continue the course they have begun—
that as they debilitate the physical and mental, so also the moral must
feel the decay, and they are sinning, not only against themselves, but
against God.
4
An Appeal to Mothers, 13, 14
.
5
An Appeal to Mothers, 20, 21
.