Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

censure or reproof is on their lips which the children have not merited. Parents, thiscourse pursued toward your children destroys their cheerfulness and ambition. Theydo your bidding, not from love, but because they dare not do otherwise. Their heartis not in the matter. It is a drudgery, instead of a pleasure, and this often leads themto forget to follow out all your directions, which increases your irritation, and makesit still worse for the children. The faultfinding is repeated, their bad conduct arrayedbefore them in glowing colors, until discouragement comes over them, and they are notparticular whether they please or not. A spirit of “I don’t care” seizes them, and theyseek that pleasure and enjoyment away from home, away from their parents, whichthey do not find at home. They mingle with street company and are soon as corrupt asthe worst.Upon whom rests this great sin? If home had been made attractive, if the parentshad manifested affection for their children, and with kindness found employment forthem, and in love instructed them how to obey their wishes, they would have touchedan answering chord in their hearts, and willing feet and hands and hearts would all havereadily obeyed them. By controlling themselves, and speaking kindly, and praising thechildren when they try to do right, parents may encourage their efforts, make themvery happy, and throw over the family circle a charm which will chase away everydark shadow and bring cheerful sunlight in.Parents sometimes excuse their own wrong course because they do not feel well.They are nervous, and think they cannot be patient and calm, and speak pleasantly. Inthis they deceive themselves and please Satan, who exults that the grace of God is notregarded by them as sufficient to overcome natural infirmities. They can and should atall times control themselves. God requires it of them. They should realize that whenthey yield to impatience and fretfulness they cause385