Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

Henry had been from us five years, and Edson had received but little of our care.For years our family was very large, and our home like a hotel, and we from that homemuch of the time. I had felt the deepest anxiety that my children should be broughtup free from evil habits, and I was often grieved as I thought of the contrast betweenmy situation and that of others who would not take burdens and cares, who could everbe with their children, to counsel and instruct them, and who spent their time almostexclusively in their own families. And I have inquired: Does God require so much ofus, and leave others without burdens? Is this equality? Are we to be thus hurried onfrom one care to another, one part of the work to another, and have but little time tobring up our children? Many nights, while others were sleeping, have been spent byme in bitter weeping.I would plan some course more favorable for my children, then objections wouldarise which would sweep away these plans. I was keenly sensitive to faults in mychildren, and every wrong they committed brought on me such heartache as to affectmy health. I have wished that some mothers could be circumstanced for a short timeas I have been for years; then they would prize the blessings they enjoy, and couldbetter sympathize with me in my privations. We prayed and labored for our children,and restrained them. We did not neglect the rod, but before using it we first labored tohave them see their faults, and then prayed with them. We sought to have our childrenunderstand that we would merit the displeasure of God if we excused them in sin. Andour efforts were blessed to their good. Their greatest pleasure was to please us. Theywere not free from faults, but we believed that they would yet be lambs of Christ’s fold.In 1860 death stepped over our threshold, and broke the youngest branch of ourfamily tree. Little Herbert, born102