Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

loved. You are an extremist. You are severe,
exacting, arbitrary, to your children. You talk the
truth to them, but do not carry its principles into
your everyday life. You are not patient, forbearing,
and forgiving. You have so long indulged your
own spirit, you are so ready to fly into a passion if
provoked, that it looks exceedingly doubtful
whether you will make efforts sufficient to meet
the mind of Christ. You do not possess the power
of endurance, forbearance, gentleness, and love.
These Christian graces must be possessed by you
before you can be truly a Christian. You reserve
your encouraging words, your kindly acts, for those
who are not entitled to them as much as your own
wife and children. Cultivate kind words, pleasant
looks, praise, and approbation for your own family,
for this will materially affect your happiness.
Never let censure or fretful words escape your lips.
Subdue this desire to rule and to place your iron
heel wherever you can. You possess a most
disagreeable spirit, a close spirit. With some you
are selfish and stingy; for others whom you wish to
think highly of you, you would sacrifice anything,
even the very things your own family need. You
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