444
Counsels on Health
in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (
3 John 2
), yet they do not
understand the influence of the body upon the mind or of the mind
upon the body. Needless trifles occupy their attention, and then they
plead a lack of time as an excuse for not obtaining the information
necessary to enable them properly to instruct their children.
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If all would obtain a knowledge of this subject and would feel
the importance of putting it to practical use, we should see a better
condition of things. Parents, teach your children to reason from cause
to effect. Show them that, if they violate the laws of health, they
must pay the penalty by suffering. Show them that recklessness in
regard to bodily health tends to recklessness in morals. Your children
require patient, faithful care. It is not enough for you to feed and clothe
them; you should seek also to develop their mental powers, and to
imbue their hearts with right principles. But how often are beauty
of character and loveliness of temper lost sight of in the eager desire
for outward appearance! O parents, be not governed by the world’s
opinion; labor not to reach its standard, Decide for yourselves what
is the great aim of life, and then bend every effort to reach that aim.
You cannot with impunity neglect the proper training of your children.
Their defective characters will publish your unfaithfulness. The evils
that you permit to pass uncorrected, the coarse, rough manners, the
disrespect and disobedience, the habits of indolence and inattention,
will bring dishonor to your names and bitterness into your lives. The
destiny of your children rests to a great extent in your hands. If you fail
in duty, you may place them in the ranks of the enemy and make them
his agents in ruining others; on the other hand, if you faithfully instruct
them, if in your own lives you set before them a godly example, you
may lead them to Christ, and they in turn will influence others, and
thus many may be saved through your instrumentality.
Instruct the Children
Fathers and mothers, do you realize the importance of the respon-
sibility resting upon you? Do you realize the necessity of guarding
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your children from careless, demoralizing habits? Allow your children
to form only such associations as will have a right influence upon their
characters. Do not allow them to be out in the evening unless you
know where they are and what they are doing. Instruct them in the