Family Religion
87
tender of the feelings of a feeble wife. He can shut the door against
much disease. Kind, cheerful, encouraging words, will prove more
effective than the most healing medicines. This will bring courage to
the heart of the desponding and discouraged, and the happiness and
sunshine brought into your family by kind acts and encouraging words,
will pay you ten-fold. The husband should remember that much of the
burden of training his children rests upon the mother. She has much
to do with moulding their minds. This should call into exercise the
tenderest feelings of the father, and with care should he lighten the
burdens of the wife. 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
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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 can they 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 upon
the part of the wife. She does not make 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 often meets a clouded brow, instead
of cheerful, encouraging words. He is mortal, and his affections
become weaned from his wife, he loses the love of his home, his
pathway is darkened, and his courage gone. 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 the dignified, responsible position God would
have him occupy, displeases God. It is the duty of the wife to yield
her wishes and will to her husband. Both should be yielding, but
preference is given in the word of God 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 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