Power of Habit
151
A child may receive sound religious instruction; but if parents,
teachers, or guardians permit his character to be biased by a wrong
habit, that habit, if not overcome, will become a predominant power,
and the child is lost
Small Actions Are Important—Every course of action has a
twofold character and importance. It is virtuous or vicious, right or
wrong, according to the motive which prompts it. A wrong action, by
frequent repetition, leaves a permanent impression upon the mind of
the actor, and also on the minds of those who are connected with him
in any relation, either spiritual or temporal. The parents or teachers
who give no attention to the small actions that are not right establish
those habits in the youth
Parents should deal faithfully with the souls committed to their
trust. They should not encourage in their children pride, extravagance,
or love of show. They should not teach them, or suffer them to learn,
little pranks which appear cunning in small children, but which they
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will have to unlearn, and for which they must be corrected when they
are older
Little pranks and errors may seem to be amusing when the child is
a baby, and they may be permitted and encouraged; but as the child
grows older, they become disgusting and offensive
Bad Habits Are More Easily Formed Than Good—All the
learning they may acquire will never undo the evil resulting from
lax discipline in childhood. One neglect, often repeated, forms habit.
One wrong act prepares the way for another. Bad habits are more
easily formed than good ones and are given up with more difficulty
Young children, if left to themselves, learn the bad more readily
than the good. Bad habits agree best with the natural heart, and things
which they see and hear in infancy and childhood are deeply imprinted
upon their minds
Early Habits Decide Future Victory or Defeat—We shall be
individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives
10
Testimonies For The Church 5:53
.
11
The Review and Herald, May 17, 1898
.
12
Testimonies For The Church 1:396
.
13
Letter 1.1877
.
14
The Review and Herald, December 5, 1899
.
15
Pacific Health Journal, September, 1897
.