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Child’s First School
93
is no other way of manifesting reverence so pleasing to Him as by
obedience to that which He has spoken.
The mother is the queen of the home, and the children are her
subjects. She is to rule her household wisely, in the dignity of her
motherhood. Her influence in the home is to be paramount; her word,
law. If she is a Christian, under God’s control, she will command the
respect of her children. Tell your children exactly what you require
of them. Then let them understand that your word must be obeyed.
Thus you are training them to respect the commandments of God,
which plainly declare, “Thou shalt,” and “Thou shalt not.”
Few parents begin early enough to teach their children to obey.
The child is usually allowed to get two or three years the start of its
parents, who forbear to discipline it, thinking it too young to learn to
obey. But all this time self is growing strong in the little being, and
every day makes harder the parent’s task of gaining control. At a
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very early age children can comprehend what is plainly and simply
told them, and by kind and judicious management can be taught to
obey. Never should they be allowed to show their parents disrespect.
Self-will should never be permitted to go unrebuked. The future
well-being of the child requires kindly, loving, but firm discipline.
There is a blind affection that gives the children the privilege
of doing as they please. But to allow a child to follow his natural
impulses is to allow him to deteriorate and to become proficient in
evil. Wise parents will not say to their children, “Follow your own
choice; go where you will, and do what you will;” but, “Listen to the
instruction of the Lord.” Wise rules and regulations must be made
and enforced, that the beauty of the home life may not be spoiled.
It is impossible to depict the evil that results from leaving a child
to its own will. Some who go astray because of neglect in childhood
will later, through the inculcation of practical lessons, come to their
senses; but many are lost forever because in childhood and youth
they received only a partial, one-sided culture. The child who is
spoiled has a heavy burden to carry throughout his life. In trial,
in disappointment, in temptation, he will follow his undisciplined,
misdirected will. Children who have never learned to obey will have
weak, impulsive characters. They seek to rule, but have not learned
to submit. They are without moral strength to restrain their wayward
tempers, to correct their wrong habits, or to subdue their uncontrolled