The Review and Herald
December 18, 1900
Words to Parents
Many parents fail to realize their God-given responsibility. They do not realize that the best missionary work they can do is to present to the world a well-disciplined, well-trained family. Upon such a family God looks with pleasure. RH December 18, 1900, par. 1
Parents should redouble their efforts for the salvation of their children. They should faithfully instruct them, not leaving them to gather up their education as best they can. The youth should not be allowed to learn good and evil indiscriminately, the parents thinking that at some future time the good will predominate and the evil lose its influence. The evil will increase faster than the good. It is possible that the evil which children learn may be eradicated after many years, but who would trust to this? If parents could be aroused to realize their fearful responsibility in the work of educating their children, they would devote more time to prayer and less to needless display. They would pray earnestly for divine aid in the training and education of their children. RH December 18, 1900, par. 2
The work of dealing with human minds requires careful study. The susceptible, expanding mind of a child longs for knowledge. Parents should keep themselves well informed, that they may give the minds of their children proper food. Like the body, the mind derives its strength from the food it receives. It is broadened and elevated by pure, strengthening food. But it is narrowed and debased by feeding upon that which is of the earth earthy. RH December 18, 1900, par. 3
Parents, you are the ones to decide whether the minds of your children shall be filled with pure, elevating thoughts, or with vicious sentiments. You can not keep their active minds unoccupied, neither can you frown away evil. Only by the inculcation of right principles can you exclude wrong thoughts. RH December 18, 1900, par. 4
Unless parents, by earnest, assiduous efforts, plant the seeds of truth in the hearts of their children, the enemy will sow the ground with tares. Good, sound instruction is the only preventive of the evil communications which corrupt good manners. Truth will protect the soul from the endless temptations that must be encountered. RH December 18, 1900, par. 5
Parents, your minds should be full of the truths of the Bible. Your memory should be stored with its inspiring examples and fascinating incidents, your hearts softened and subdued by its deep spiritual lessons. Then as you teach your children, they will catch the enthusiasm you feel. RH December 18, 1900, par. 6
Parents stand in the place of God to their children. Their will, when in harmony with the divine will, is to be respected, honored, and obeyed. Let not children feel at liberty to disregard the wishes of their parents. God has spoken decidedly on this point: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” There can be no safe departure from this injunction. The parent's will, when it is in harmony with the will of God, is to be law. RH December 18, 1900, par. 7
If parents work as they should for their children, they can not study nor imitate the fashions of the world. They can not take time for gossiping or aimless visiting. The mother who lives to please herself places herself in bondage to the enemy of truth and righteousness. RH December 18, 1900, par. 8
God says, Take this child and train it for me. Form its character in accordance with the divine model. Parents should realize that by God's appointment they are the guardians of their children, whom they are to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They should look their responsibilities fairly and squarely in the face. Remember that association with those of lax morals and coarse characters will have a detrimental influence upon your children. Do not leave them to the evil plottings of the enemy. Guard them carefully. RH December 18, 1900, par. 9
The mother who has children to train and prepare for the heavenly mansions should not place her responsibilities upon some one else in order that she may be a missionary. In her own home she can do the very highest kind of missionary work. Let her enter the school of Christ, that she may learn the lessons every mother needs to learn. Let her study Christ's way of dealing with minds. Let her seek to be a true mother, a queen in the household, guiding, controlling, counseling, putting all her tact and skill into her work. Let her study how to train her children so that they will develop into well-balanced, symmetrical men and women, useful to their fellow men, and prepared to shine in the courts of the Lord. If she does her work well, she will have the privilege of seeing her children serving God through the ceaseless ages of eternity. RH December 18, 1900, par. 10
There are some children who need more patient discipline and kindly training than others. Their unyielding traits of character were given them as a legacy, and they need much sympathy and love. But by persevering labor these wayward ones may be prepared for the work of the Master. They may possess undeveloped powers which, when aroused, will enable them to fill places far in advance of those from whom more has been expected. RH December 18, 1900, par. 11
Parents, if you have children with peculiar temperaments, do not, because of this, let the blight of discouragement rest upon their lives. Help them by your love and sympathy. Strengthen them by loving words and kindly deeds to overcome their defects of character. RH December 18, 1900, par. 12
This principle should be carried out in the Church as well as in the family. The day of Judgment will show that those who have been faithful in helping the unpromising ones, so generally neglected, have many stars in their crown. Those who seem so defective may have valuable qualities, which need developing by patient love and untiring effort. Such ones often make the most successful missionaries; for they know how to help those who need help. Are the efforts made in behalf of these apparently one-sided ones of no avail?—No; no. When the right chord is touched, the response comes. Only eternity can make known the good accomplished by such efforts. When we see as we are seen, and know as we are known, we shall realize how God regards this work. RH December 18, 1900, par. 13
When parents become depressed and discouraged, let them not go to human beings for solace and sympathy. Let them rather take all their cares and perplexities to Jesus. By the wrong advice given by human beings, Satan leads men and women to bind upon themselves burdens grievous to be borne. Parents who listen to the advice of those that are not on the side of Christ will make a terrible failure of their work. They will fall an easy prey to the enemy's temptations. RH December 18, 1900, par. 14
Human help is as a broken reed; but Christ knew that human beings would be inclined to depend on this help. Therefore He lifted up His voice and cried, “Come unto me, ... and I will give you rest.” He understands every phase of character, and to those who seek His counsel He will give that wisdom which comes down from above. RH December 18, 1900, par. 15