190
Child Guidance
The Rod Is Sometimes Necessary—The mother may ask, “Shall
I never punish my child?”
Whipping may be necessary when other resorts fail, yet she should
not use the rod if it is possible to avoid doing so. But if milder measures
prove insufficient, punishment that will bring the child to its senses
should in love be administered. Frequently one such correction will
be enough for a lifetime, to show the child that he does not hold the
lines of control.
And when this step becomes necessary, the child should be seri-
ously impressed with the thought that this is not done for the gratifica-
tion of the parent, or to indulge arbitrary authority, but for the child’s
own good. He should be taught that every fault uncorrected will bring
unhappiness to himself and will displease God. Under such discipline
children will find their greatest happiness in submitting their wills to
the will of the heavenly Father
As the Last Resort—Many times you will find that if you will
reason with them kindly, they will not need to be whipped. And such
method of dealing will lead them to have confidence in you. They
will make you their confidant. They will come to you and say, I did
wrong today at such a time, and I want you to forgive me and to ask
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God to forgive me. I have gone through scenes like this, and therefore
I know.... I am thankful that I had courage, when they did wrong, to
deal with them firmly, to pray with them, and to keep the standards
of God’s Word before them. I am glad that I presented to them the
promises made to the overcomer, and the rewards offered to those who
are faithful
Never Strike a Passionate Blow—Never give your child a pas-
sionate blow, unless you want him to learn to fight and quarrel. As
parents you stand in the place of God to your children, and you are to
be on guard
You may have to punish with the rod; this is sometimes essential,
but defer any settlement of the difficulty until you have settled the case
with yourselves. Ask yourself, Have I submitted my way and will
to God? Have I placed myself where God can manage me, so that I
21
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 116, 117
.
22
Manuscript 27, 1911
.
23
Manuscript 32, 1899
.