Page 110 - Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (1913)

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Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
One great reason why there is so much evil in the world today is
that parents occupy their minds with other things to the exclusion
of the work that is all-important—the task of patiently and kindly
teaching their children the way of the Lord. Parents should allow
nothing to prevent them from giving to their children all the time
that is necessary to make them understand what it means to obey
and trust the Lord fully.
Before visitors, before every other consideration, your children
should come first. The time spent in needless sewing, God would
have you spend in educating them in essential things. That unnec-
essary garment you are making, that extra dish you think you will
prepare—let it be neglected rather than the education of your chil-
dren. The labor due your child during its early years will admit of no
neglect. There is no time in its life when the rule should be forgotten,
Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little.
Deny your children anything rather than the instruction which, if
faithfully followed, will make them good and useful members of
society, and will prepare them for citizenship in the kingdom of
heaven.
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A Missionary Training
Upon parents rests the responsibility of developing in their chil-
dren those capabilities which will enable them to do good service
for God. God sees all the possibilities in that mite of humanity. He
sees that with proper training the child will become a power for good
in the world. He watches with anxious interest to see whether the
parents will carry out His plan, or whether by mistaken kindness
they will thwart His purpose, indulging the child to his present and
eternal ruin. To transform this helpless and apparently insignificant
being into a blessing to the world and an honor to God is a great and
grand work.
Parents, help your children to fulfill God’s purpose for them.
In the home they are to be trained to do missionary work that will
prepare them for wider spheres of usefulness. Train them to be
an honor to the One who died to gain for them eternal life in the
kingdom of glory. Teach them that God has a part for them to act