226
The Adventist Home
his mother or father for bread when he is hungry, so the Lord would
have you ask Him for the things which you need....
Jesus knows the needs of children, and He loves to listen to their
prayers. Let the children shut out the world and everything that would
attract the thoughts from God; and let them feel that they are alone
with God, that His eye looks into the inmost heart and reads the desire
of the soul, and that they may talk with God....
Then, children, ask God to do for you those things that you cannot
do for yourselves. Tell Jesus everything. Lay open before Him the
secrets of your heart; for His eye searches the inmost recesses of the
soul, and He reads your thoughts as an open book. When you have
asked for the things that are necessary for your soul’s good, believe
that you receive them, and you shall have them
[300]
Perform the Home Duties Cheerfully—Children and youth
should be missionaries at home by doing those things that need to
be done and that someone must do.... You can prove by faithful per-
formance of the little things that seem to you unimportant that you
have a true missionary spirit. It is the willingness to do the duties that
lie in your path, to relieve your overburdened mother, that will prove
you worthy of being entrusted with larger responsibilities. You do not
think that washing dishes is pleasant work, yet you would not like to
be denied the privilege of eating food that has been placed on those
dishes. Do you think that it is more pleasant work for your mother to
do those things than it is for you? Are you willing to leave what you
consider a disagreeable task for your careworn mother to do, while
you play the lady? There is sweeping to be done, there are rugs to take
up and shake, and the rooms are to be put in order; and while you are
neglecting to do these things, is it consistent for you to desire larger
responsibilities? Have you considered how many times mother has to
attend to all these household duties while you are excused to attend
school or amuse yourself
Many children go about their home duties as though they were
disagreeable tasks, and their faces plainly show the disagreeable. They
find fault and murmur, and nothing is done willingly. This is not
Christlike; it is the spirit of Satan, and if you cherish it, you will be
6
The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1892
.
7
The Youth’s Instructor, March 2, 1893
.