160
Child Guidance
child with the strength, wisdom, and maturity of manhood and wom-
anhood. Some never had a genuine childhood. They never enjoyed
the freedom, simplicity, and freshness of budding life. They were
scolded and snubbed, reproved and beaten, until the innocence and
trustful frankness of the child was exchanged for fear, envy, jealousy,
[213]
and deceitfulness. Such seldom have the characteristics that will make
the childhood of their own dear ones happy
A Great Mistake—A great mistake is made when the lines of
control are placed in the child’s hands, and he is allowed to bear
sway and control in the home. This is giving undue direction to that
wonderful thing, the will power. But this has been done and will
continue to be done because fathers and mothers are blind in their
discernment and calculation
A Mother Who Yielded to Her Crying Child—Your child ...
needs the hand of wisdom to guide him aright. He has been allowed to
cry for what he wanted, until he has formed the habit of doing this. He
has been allowed to cry for his father. Again and again, in his hearing,
others have been told how he cries for his father, until he makes it
a point of doing this. Had I your child, in three weeks he would be
transformed. I would let him understand that my word was law, and
kindly but firmly I would carry out my purposes. I would not submit
my will to the child’s will. You have a work to do here, and you have
lost much by not taking hold of it before
Unhappy Life of the Spoiled Child—Every child that is not care-
fully and prayerfully disciplined will be unhappy in this probationary
time and will form such unlovely traits of character that the Lord
cannot unite them with His family in heaven. There is a very great
burden to be carried all through the life of a spoiled child. In trial,
in disappointment, in temptation, he will follow his undisciplined,
misdirected will
Children who are allowed to have their own way are not happy.
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The unsubdued heart has not within itself the elements of rest and
contentment. The mind and heart must be disciplined and brought
under proper restraint, in order for the character to harmonize with the
10
Good Health, March, 1880
.
11
Manuscript 126, 1897
.
12
Letter 5, 1884
.
13
Manuscript 126, 1897
.