42
The Retirement Years
the God of heaven, and unless they repent and forsake their evil ways,
they will not be found worthy of a place in the saints’ inheritance....
[55]
The thought that children have ministered to the comfort of their
parents is a thought of satisfaction all through the life, and will espe-
cially bring them joy when they themselves are in need of sympathy
and love. Those whose hearts are filled with love will regard the
privilege of smoothing the passage to the grave for their parents an
inestimable privilege. They will rejoice that they had a part in bring-
ing comfort and peace to the last days of their loved parents. To do
otherwise than this, to deny to the helpless aged ones the kindly min-
istrations of sons and daughters, would fill the soul with remorse, the
days with regret, if our hearts were not hardened and cold as a stone.
Our obligation to our parents never ceases. Our love for them, and
theirs for us, is not measured by years or distance, and our responsi-
bility can never be set aside.—
The Review and Herald, November 15,
1892
.
A Matter of Vital Importance
I was shown that you do not possess that filial love which you
should. The evil in your nature is exercised in a most unnatural way.
You are not tender and respectful to your parents. Whatever may be
their faults, you have no excuse for the course you have pursued toward
them. It has been most unfeeling and disrespectful. Angels turned
from you in sadness, repeating these words: “That which ye sow ye
shall also reap.” Should time continue, you would receive from your
children the same treatment which your parents have received from
you. You have not studied how you could best make your parents
happy, and then sacrificed your wishes and your pleasure to this end.
[56]
Their days upon earth are few at most, and will be full of care and
trouble even if you do all you can to smooth their passage to the grave.
“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon
the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” This is the first com-
mandment with promise. It is binding upon childhood and youth, upon
the middle-aged and the aged. There is no period in life when children
are excused from honoring their parents. This solemn obligation is
binding upon every son and daughter, and is one of the conditions to
their prolonging their lives upon the land which the Lord will give the