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don’t care” seizes them, and they seek that pleasure and enjoyment
away from home, away from their parents, which they do not find at
home. They mingle with street company and are soon as corrupt as
the worst.
Upon whom rests this great sin? If home had been made attractive,
if the parents had manifested affection for their children, and with
kindness found employment for them, and in love instructed them
how to obey their wishes, they would have touched an answering
chord in their hearts, and willing feet and hands and hearts would all
have readily obeyed them. By controlling themselves, and speaking
kindly, and praising the children when they try to do right, parents
may encourage their efforts, make them very happy, and throw over
the family circle a charm which will chase away every dark shadow
and bring cheerful sunlight in.
Parents sometimes excuse their own wrong course because they do
not feel well. They are nervous, and think they cannot be patient and
calm, and speak pleasantly. In this they deceive themselves and please
Satan, who exults that the grace of God is not regarded by them as
sufficient to overcome natural infirmities. They can and should at all
times control themselves. God requires it of them. They should realize
that when they yield to impatience and fretfulness they cause others to
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suffer. Those around them are affected by the spirit they manifest, and
if they in their turn act out the same spirit, the evil is increased and
everything goes wrong.
Parents, when you feel fretful, you should not commit so great a
sin as to poison the whole family with this dangerous irritability. At
such times set a double watch over yourselves, and resolve in your
heart not to offend with your lips, that you will utter only pleasant,
cheerful words. Say to yourselves: “I will not mar the happiness of
my children by a fretful word.” By thus controlling yourselves, you
will grow stronger. Your nervous system will not be so sensitive. You
will be strengthened by the principles of right. The consciousness that
you are faithfully discharging your duty will strengthen you. Angels
of God will smile upon your efforts and help you. When you feel
impatient, you too often think the cause is in your children, and you
blame them when they do not deserve it. At another time they might do
the very same things and all would be acceptable and right. Children
know, and mark, and feel these irregularities, and they are not always