Parental Influences
135
associates. It may be hard for the mother to exercise self-control. If
the husband sees that his wife’s weakness is endangering the safety of
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the children, he should take more of the burden upon himself, doing
all in his power to lead his boys to God.—
The Review and Herald,
July 8, 1902
.
Mothers Not to Seek Excitement—Mothers who have youthful
minds to train and the characters of children to form should not seek
the excitement of the world in order to be cheerful and happy. They
have an important lifework, and they and theirs cannot afford to spend
time in an unprofitable manner. Time is one of the important talents
which God has entrusted to us and for which He will call us to account.
A waste of time is a waste of intellect. The powers of the mind are
susceptible of high cultivation. It is the duty of mothers to cultivate
their minds and keep their hearts pure. They should improve every
means within their reach for their intellectual and moral improvement
that they may be qualified to improve the minds of their children.
Those who indulge their disposition to be in company will soon
feel restless unless visiting or entertaining visitors. Such have not the
power of adaptation to circumstances. The necessary, sacred home
duties seem commonplace and uninteresting to them. They have no
love for self-examination or self-discipline. The mind hungers for the
varying, exciting scenes of worldly life; children are neglected for the
indulgence of inclination; and the recording angel writes, “Unprof-
itable servants.” God designs that our minds should not be purposeless
but should accomplish good in this life.—
Testimonies for the Church
3:146, 147
(1872).
Nursing Mother to Preserve a Happy State—The character also
of the child is more or less affected by the nature of the nourishment
received from the mother. How important, then, that the mother, while
nursing her infant, should preserve a happy state of mind, having
perfect control of her own spirit. By thus doing, the food of the child
is not injured, and the calm, self-possessed course the mother pursues
[168]
in the treatment of her child has much to do in molding the mind of
the infant. If it is nervous and easily agitated, the mother’s careful,
unhurried manner will have a soothing and correcting influence, and
the health of the infant will be much improved.—
The Review and
Herald, July 25, 1899
. (
Counsels on Health, 80
.)