260
Child Guidance
There will be no need to cast aside the useful for the useless, for selfish
amusements are dangerous to the morals
Weariness, Normal Result of Labor—Mothers, there is nothing
that leads to such evils as to lift the burdens from your daughters
and give them nothing special to do, and let them choose their own
employment, perhaps a little crochet or some other fancywork to busy
themselves. Let them have exercise of the limbs and muscles. If it
wearies them, what then? Are you not wearied in your work? Will
weariness hurt your children, unless overworked, more than it hurts
you? No, indeed
They may be weary, but how sweet is rest after a proper amount
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of labor. Sleep, nature’s sweet restorer, invigorates the tired body and
prepares it for the next day’s duties
Why Poverty Is Often a Blessing—Riches and idleness are
thought by some to be blessings indeed; but those who are always
busy, and who cheerfully go about their daily tasks, are the most happy
and enjoy the best health.... The sentence that man must toil for his
daily bread, and the promise of future happiness and glory, both came
from the same throne, and both are blessings
Poverty, in many cases, is a blessing; for it prevents youth and
children from being ruined by inaction. The physical as well as the
mental powers should be cultivated and properly developed. The first
and constant care of parents should be to see that their children have
firm constitutions, that they may be sound men and women. It is
impossible to attain this object without physical exercise.
For their own physical health and moral good, children should be
taught to work, even if there is no necessity so far as want is concerned.
If they would have pure and virtuous characters, they must have the
discipline of well-regulated labor, which will bring into exercise all
the muscles. The satisfaction that children will have in being useful,
and in denying themselves to help others, will be the most healthful
pleasure they ever enjoyed
7
The Youth’s Instructor, July 27, 1893
.
8
Testimonies For The Church 2:371
.
9
The Signs of the Times, April 10, 1884
.
10
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 97
.
11
Testimonies For The Church 3:151
.