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Counsels on Stewardship
Birthdays and Holidays
Parents are to bring up and educate and train their children in habits
of self-control and self-denial. They are ever to keep before them their
obligation to obey the word of God and to live for the purpose of
serving Jesus. They are to educate their children that there is need
of living in accordance with simple habits in their daily life, and to
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avoid expensive dress, expensive diet, expensive houses, and expensive
furniture. The terms upon which eternal life will be ours are set forth
in these words, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;
... and thy neighbor as thyself.”
Parents have not taught their children the precepts of the law as God
has commanded them. They have educated them in selfish habits. They
have taught them to regard their birthdays and holidays as occasions
when they expect to receive gifts, and to follow the habits and customs
of the world. These occasions, which should serve to increase the
knowledge of God and to awaken thankfulness of heart for His mercy
and love in preserving their lives for another year, are turned into
occasions for self-pleasing, for the gratification and glorification of
the children. They have been kept by the power of God through every
moment of their life, and yet parents do not teach their children to
think of this, and to express thanksgiving for His mercy toward them.
If children and youth had been properly instructed in this age of
the world, what honor, what praise and thanksgiving, would flow from
their lips to God! What a revenue of small gifts would be brought
from the hands of the little ones to be put into His treasury as thank
offerings! God would be remembered instead of forgotten.
Not only on birthdays should parents and children remember the
mercies of the Lord in a special way, but Christmas and New Year’s
should also be seasons when every household should remember their
Creator and Redeemer. Instead of bestowing gifts and offerings in
such abundance on human objects, reverence, honor, and gratitude
should be rendered to God, and gifts and offerings should be caused
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to flow in the divine channel. Would not the Lord be pleased with
such a remembrance of Him? O how God has been forgotten on these
occasions! ...
When you have a holiday, make it a pleasant and happy day for
your children, and make it also a pleasant day for the poor and the