Missionaries in the Home
131
His advice and benediction, had His image and His gracious words
stamped upon their plastic minds, never to be effaced. We should learn
a lesson from this act of Christ, that the hearts of the young are most
susceptible to the teachings of Christianity, easy to influence toward
piety and virtue, and strong to retain the impressions received. But
these tender, youthful ones should be approached with kindness and
taught with love and patience.
My sister, bind your children to your heart by affection. Give them
proper care and attention in all things. Furnish them with becoming
garments, that they may not be mortified by their appearance, for
this would be injurious to their self-respect. You have seen that the
world is devoted to fashion and dress, neglecting the mind and morals
to decorate the person; but in avoiding this evil you verge upon the
opposite extreme, and do not pay sufficient attention to your own dress
and that of your children. It is always right to be neat and to be clad
appropriately in a manner becoming to your age and station in life.
Order and cleanliness is the law of heaven; and in order to come
into harmony with the divine arrangement, it is our duty to be neat and
tasty. Your ideas upon this subject are perverted. While condemning
the extravagance and vanity of the world, you fall into the error of
stretching economy into penuriousness. You deny yourself that which
[143]
it is right and proper that you should have, and which God has furnished
you means to procure. You do not suitably clothe yourself or your
children. Our outward appearance should not dishonor the One we
profess to follow, but should reflect credit upon His cause.
The apostle says: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they
be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God,
who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they
be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.”
Your means are given you to use where needed, not to hoard up for
destruction in the great conflagration. You are bidden to enjoy the
good gifts of the Lord, and should use them for your own comfort, for
charitable purposes, and in good works to advance His cause, thereby
laying up for yourself treasures in heaven.
Many of your afflictions have been visited upon you, in the wisdom
of God, to bring you closer to the throne of grace. He softens and
subdues His children by sorrows and trials. This world is God’s
workshop, where He fashions us for the courts of heaven. He uses