Child’s Reaction
213
to the disregarding finally of those regulations that Christ would have
fulfilled
When parents show a rough, severe, masterly spirit, a spirit of
obstinacy and stubbornness is aroused in the children. Thus the parents
fail to exert over their children the softening influence that they might.
Parents, can you not see that harsh words provoke resistance? What
would you do if treated as inconsiderately as you treat your little ones?
It is your duty to study from cause to effect. When you scolded your
children, when with angry blows you struck those who were too small
to defend themselves, did you ask yourself what effect such treatment
would have upon you? Have you thought how sensitive you are in
regard to words of censure or blame? how quickly you feel hurt if you
think that someone fails to recognize your capabilities? You are but
grown-up children. Then think how your children must feel when you
speak harsh, cutting words to them, severely punishing them for faults
that are not half so grievous in the sight of God as is your treatment of
them
Many parents professing to be Christians are not converted. Christ
does not abide in their hearts by faith! Their harshness, their impru-
dence, their unsubdued tempers, disgust their children and make them
averse to all their religious instruction
To Continual Censure—In our efforts to correct evil, we should
guard against a tendency to faultfinding or censure. Continual censure
[281]
bewilders, but does not reform. With many minds, and often those of
the finest susceptibility, an atmosphere of unsympathetic criticism is
fatal to effort. Flowers do not unfold under the breath of a blighting
wind.
A child frequently censured for some special fault comes to regard
that fault as his peculiarity, something against which it is vain to strive.
Thus are created discouragement and hopelessness, often concealed
under an appearance of indifference or bravado
To Ordering and Scolding—Some parents raise many a storm
by their lack of self-control. Instead of kindly asking the children to
do this or that, they order them in a scolding tone, and at the same
4
The Review and Herald, March 13, 1894
.
5
Manuscript 42, 1903
.
6
Letter 18b, 1891
.
7
Education, 291
.