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How to Spend Holidays
Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor,
and is still more essential for those whose labor is principally mental.
It is not essential to our salvation nor for the glory of God to keep
the mind laboring constantly and exclusively, even upon religious
themes. There are amusements, such as dancing, card playing, chess,
checkers, etc., which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns
them. These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not
beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing
in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and
dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and
something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place.
I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after
the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will
bring dissatisfaction to our children. On these days when there
is danger that our children will be exposed to evil influences and
become corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world,
let the parents study to get up something to take the place of these
dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand that you
have their good and happiness in view.
Let several families living in a city or village unite and leave the
occupations which have taxed them physically and mentally, and
take an excursion into the country, to the side of a fine lake or to a
nice grove, where the scenery of nature is beautiful. They should
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provide themselves with plain, hygienic food, the very best fruits
and grains, and spread their table under the shade of some tree or
under the canopy of heaven. The ride, the exercise, and the scenery
will quicken the appetite, and they can enjoy a repast which kings
might envy.
On such occasions parents and children should feel free from
care, labor, and perplexity. Parents should become children with
their children, making everything as pleasant for them as possible.
Let the whole day be given to recreation.
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