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The Adventist Home
There are some who think that unless they are directly connected
with active religious work, they are not doing the will of God; but
this is a mistake. Everyone has a work to do for the Master; it is a
wonderful work to make home pleasant and all that it ought to be. The
humblest talents, if the heart of the recipient is given to God, will make
the home life all that God would have it. A bright light will shine forth
as the result of wholehearted service to God. Men and women can just
as surely serve God by giving earnest heed to the things which they
have heard, by educating their children to live and fear to offend God,
as can the minister in the pulpit
These women who are doing with ready willingness what their
hands find to do, with cheerfulness of spirit aiding their husbands to
bear their burdens and training their children for God, are missionaries
in the highest sense
Religious Activities Should Not Supersede Care of Family—If
you ignore your duty as a wife and mother and hold out your hands for
the Lord to put another class of work in them, be sure that He will not
contradict Himself; He points you to the duty you have to do at home.
If you have the idea that some work greater and holier than this has
been entrusted to you, you are under a deception. By faithfulness in
your own home, working for the souls of those who are nearest to you,
you may be gaining a fitness to work for Christ in a wider field. But
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be sure that those who are neglectful of their duty in the home circle
are not prepared to work for other souls
The Lord has not called you to neglect your home and your hus-
band and children. He never works in this way; and He never will....
Never for a moment suppose that God has given you a work that will
necessitate a separation from your precious little flock. Do not leave
them to become demoralized by improper associations and to harden
their hearts against their mother. This is letting your light shine in
a wrong way, altogether; you are making it more difficult for your
children to become what God would have them and win heaven at last.
God cares for them, and so must you if you claim to be His child
5
Manuscript 32, 1899
.
6
Testimonies For The Church 2, 466
.
7
The Review and Herald, September 15, 1891
, par. 2.
8
Letter 28, 1890
.