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

peculiar organization of individuals, must die. If
you had children, and your mind were compelled to
be called away from yourself to care for them, to
instruct them, and be an example to them, it would
be an advantage to you. You have called forth in
your home the attention and forbearance which are
required to be exercised toward children. This
attention you require and will have. But you have
not thought it any part of your duty to care for, or
seek to advantage, others. You are willful and very
set to carry out your own plans. When everything
is smooth in your pathway, you manifest the fruits
we expect to see borne by a Christian; but when
your path is crossed, the result is the opposite. Like
a spoiled child which deserves chastisement, you
have a spell of perverse willfulness. When two
compose a family, as in your case, and there are no
children to call into exercise patience, forbearance,
and true love, there is need of constant
watchfulness lest selfishness obtain the supremacy,
lest you yourselves become the center, and you
require attention, care, and interest, which you feel
under no obligation to bestow upon others. The
care of children in a family makes it necessary that
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