218
Child Guidance
treated in a quiet, kind manner, it will do much to preserve in him a
pleasant temper
To Loving Entreaty—The father, as priest of the household,
should deal gently and patiently with his children. He should be
careful not to arouse in them a combative disposition. He must not
allow transgression to go uncorrected, and yet there is a way to correct
without stirring up the worst passions in the human heart. Let him in
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love talk with his children, telling them how grieved the Saviour is
over their course; and then let him kneel with them before the mercy
seat and present them to Christ, praying that He will have compassion
on them and lead them to repent and ask forgiveness. Such disciplining
will nearly always break the most stubborn heart.
God desires us to deal with our children in simplicity. We are liable
to forget that children have not had the advantage of the long years
of training that older people have had. If the little ones do not act in
accordance with our ideas in every respect, we sometimes think that
they deserve a scolding. But this will not mend matters. Take them to
the Saviour, and tell Him all about it; then believe that His blessing
will rest upon them
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20
The Review and Herald, May 17, 1898
.
21
Manuscript 70, 1903
.