136
Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
Mother Should Endeavor to Be Self-possessed—The more
quiet and simple the life of a child, the more favorable it will be
to both physical and mental development. At all times the mother
should endeavor to be quiet, calm, and self-possessed. Many infants
are extremely susceptible to nervous excitement, and the mother’s
gentle, unhurried manner will have a soothing influence that will be of
untold benefit to the child.—
The Ministry of Healing, 381
(1905).
Sensitive Child Not to Be Wounded by Indifference—Young
children love society. They cannot, as a general thing, enjoy them-
selves alone, and the mother should feel that, in most cases, the place
for her children, when they are in the house, is in the room she occu-
pies. She can then have a general oversight of them; be prepared to
set little differences right, when appealed to by them; correct wrong
habits or the manifestation of selfishness or passion; and can give their
minds a turn in the right direction. That which children enjoy, they
think mother can be pleased with, and it is perfectly natural for them
to consult mother in little matters of perplexity.
And the mother should not wound the heart of her sensitive child
by treating the matter with indifference or by refusing to be troubled
with such small matters. That which may be small to the mother
is large to them. And a word of direction, or caution, at the right
time will often prove of great value. An approving glance, a word of
encouragement and praise from the mother, will often cast a sunbeam
into their young hearts for a whole day.—
Healthful Living, 46, 47,
1865
(Part 2) . (
Selected Messages 2:438, 439
.)
[169]
Deal Gently With Little Ones—Mothers, deal gently with your
little ones. Christ was once a little child. For His sake honor the
children. Look upon them as a sacred charge, not to be indulged,
petted, and idolized but to be taught to live pure, noble lives. They are
God’s property; He loves them and calls upon you to cooperate with
Him in helping them to form perfect characters.—
The Signs of the
Times, August 23, 1899
. (
The Adventist Home, 280
.)
Your Child Is the Property of God—My sister, can you be sur-
prised that your daughter has little confidence in her mother’s word?
You have educated her to be untruthful; and the Lord is grieved to see
one of His little ones led in the wrong path by her mother. Your child
is not your own; you cannot do with her as you like, for she is the
property of the Lord. Exercise a steady persevering control over her;