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will prove more effective than the most healing medicines. These will
bring courage to the heart of the desponding and discouraged, and
the happiness and sunshine brought into the family by kind acts and
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encouraging words will repay the effort tenfold. The husband should
remember that much of the burden of training his children rests upon
the mother, that she has much to do with molding their minds. This
should call into exercise his tenderest feelings, and with care should
he lighten her burdens. He should encourage her to lean upon his large
affections, and direct her mind to heaven, where there is strength and
peace, and a final rest for the weary. He should not come to his home
with a clouded brow, but should with his presence bring sunlight into
the family, and should encourage his wife to look up and believe in
God. Unitedly they can claim the promises of God and bring His rich
blessing into the family. Unkindness, complaining, and anger shut
Jesus from the dwelling. I saw that angels of God will flee from a
house where there are unpleasant words, fretfulness, and strife.
I have also been shown that there is often a great failure on the
part of the wife. She does not put forth strong efforts to control her
own spirit and make home happy. There is often fretfulness and
unnecessary complaining on her part. The husband comes home from
his labor weary and perplexed, and meets a clouded brow instead of
cheerful, encouraging words. He is but human, and his affections
become weaned from his wife, he loses the love of his home, his
pathway is darkened, and his courage destroyed. He yields his self-
respect and that dignity which God requires him to maintain. The
husband is the head of the family, as Christ is the head of the church;
and any course which the wife may pursue to lessen his influence and
lead him to come down from that dignified, responsible position is
displeasing to God. It is the duty of the wife to yield her wishes and
will to her husband. Both should be yielding, but the word of God
gives preference to the judgment of the husband. And it will not detract
from the dignity of the wife to yield to him whom she has chosen to
be her counselor, adviser, and protector. The husband should maintain
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his position in his family with all meekness, yet with decision. Some
have asked the question, Must I be on my guard and feel a restraint
upon me continually? I have been shown that we have a great work
before us to search our own hearts, and watch ourselves with jealous
care. We should learn wherein we fail, and then guard ourselves upon