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

the father, they the children. If you wish to ruin
your family, continue to govern by brute force, and
you will surely succeed.
Your wife is tenderhearted and easily agitated.
She feels your harshness of discipline, and it leads
her to the opposite extreme. She seeks to
counteract your severity, and you charge this as a
great lack in her of doing her duty and controlling
her children. You think her indulgent, overfond,
and tender. You cannot help her in this respect
until you correct yourself and manifest that
parental tenderness which you should in your
family. It is your wrong management which leads
your wife to be lax in her discipline. You must
have your nature softened. You need to be refined
by the influences of the Spirit of God. You need a
thorough conversion; then you can work from the
right standpoint. You need to let love into your
soul and permit it to occupy the place of selfdignity;
self must die.
Your wife needs tenderness and love. The Lord
loves her. She is much nearer the kingdom of
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