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Child Guidance
governed by caprice, but by the Bible standard. When he permits his
own harsh traits of character to bear sway, he becomes a despot
Reprove, but With Affectionate Tenderness—No doubt you
will see faults and waywardness on the part of your children. Some
parents will tell you that they talk to and punish their children, but
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they cannot see that it does them any real good. Let such parents try
new methods. Let them mingle kindness and affection and love with
their family government, and yet let them be as firm as a rock to right
principles
None who deal with the young should be ironhearted, but affec-
tionate, tender, pitiful, courteous, winning, and companionable; yet
they should know that reproofs must be given, and that even rebuke
may have to be spoken to cut off some evil-doing
I am instructed to say to parents, Raise the standard of behavior
in your own homes. Teach your children to obey. Rule them by the
combined influence of affection and Christlike authority. Let your
lives be such that of you may be spoken the words of commendation
spoken of Cornelius, of whom it is said that he “feared God with all
his house.
Exercise Neither Severity nor Excessive Indulgence—We have
no sympathy with that discipline which would discourage children by
hard censure, or irritate them by passionate correction, and then, as the
impulse changes, smother them with kisses, or harm them by injurious
gratification. Excessive indulgence and undue severity are alike to
be avoided. While vigilance and firmness are indispensable, so also
are sympathy and tenderness. Parents, remember that you deal with
children who are struggling with temptation, and that to them these
evil promptings are as hard to resist as are those that assail persons of
mature years. Children who really desire to do right may fail again and
again, and as often need encouragement to energy and perseverance.
Watch the working of these young minds with prayerful solicitude.
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Strengthen every good impulse; encourage every noble action
21
The Review and Herald, August 30, 1881
.
22
Manuscript 38, 1895
.
23
Manuscript 68, 1897
.
24
The Review and Herald, April 21, 1904
.
25
The Signs of the Times, November 24, 1881
.