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The Adventist Home
leave this portion of their child life behind them. They cherish these
feelings until they cramp and dwarf the whole life by their querulous
complaints. And not only their own lives but the lives of others also.
They carry with them the spirit of Ishmael, whose hand was against
everybody, and everybody’s hand against him
The Selfish and Morose Husband—Brother B is not of a tem-
perament to bring sunshine into his family. Here is a good place
for him to begin to work. He is more like a cloud than a beam of
light. He is too selfish to speak words of approval to the members
of his family, especially to the one of all others who should have his
love and tender respect. He is morose, overbearing, dictatorial; his
words are frequently cutting, and leave a wound that he does not try to
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heal by softening spirit, acknowledging his faults, and confessing his
wrongdoings....
Brother B should soften; he should cultivate refinement and cour-
tesy. He should be very tender and gentle toward his wife, who is his
equal in every respect; he should not utter a word that would cast a
shadow upon her heart. He should begin the work of reformation at
home; he should cultivate affection and overcome the coarse, harsh,
unfeeling, and ungenerous traits of his disposition
The husband and father who is morose, selfish, and overbearing
is not only unhappy himself, but he casts gloom upon all the inmates
of his home. He will reap the result in seeing his wife dispirited and
sickly and his children marred with his own unlovely temper
An Egotistical and Intolerant Husband—You expect too much
of your wife and children. You censure too much. If you would
encourage a cheerful, happy temper yourself and speak kindly and
tenderly to them, you would bring sunlight into your dwelling instead
of clouds, sorrow, and unhappiness. You think too much of your
opinion; you have taken extreme positions, and have not been willing
that your wife’s judgment should have the weight it should in your
family. You have not encouraged respect for your wife yourself nor
educated your children to respect her judgment. You have not made her
your equal, but have rather taken the reins of government and control
into your own hands and held them with a firm grasp. You have not
5
Letter 107, 1898
.
6
Testimonies For The Church 4, 36, 37
.
7
The Ministry of Healing, 374, 375
.