94
Child Guidance
weight, often murmuring and fretting because everything does not suit
them
Develop Habits of Thoroughness and Dispatch—From the
mother the children are to learn habits of neatness, thoroughness,
and dispatch. To allow a child to take an hour or two in doing a piece
of work that could easily be done in half an hour is to allow it to form
dilatory habits. Habits of industry and thoroughness will be an untold
blessing to the youth in the larger school of life, upon which they must
enter as they grow older
Counsel Especially for Girls—Another defect that has caused me
much uneasiness and trouble is the habit some girls have of letting
their tongues run, wasting precious time in talking of worthless things.
While girls give their attention to talk, their work drags behind. These
matters have been looked upon as little things, unworthy of notice.
Many are deceived as to what constitutes a little thing. Little things
have an important relation to the great whole. God does not disregard
the infinitely little things that have to do with the welfare of the human
family
Importance of “Little Things.”—Never underrate the importance
of little things. Little things supply the actual discipline of life. It is
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by them that the soul is trained that it may grow into the likeness of
Christ, or bear the likeness of evil. God help us to cultivate habits of
thought, word, look, and action that will testify to all about us that we
have been with Jesus and learned of Him
Make Mistakes a Steppingstone—Let the child and the youth
be taught that every mistake, every fault, every difficulty conquered
becomes a steppingstone to better and higher things. It is through such
experiences that all who have ever made life worth the living have
achieved success
[131]
2
Testimonies For The Church 1:392, 393
.
3
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 122, 123
.
4
The Youth’s Instructor, September 7, 1893
.
5
The Youth’s Instructor, March 9, 1893
.
6
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 60
.