The Mother's Duty—Christ Her Strength.
By Ellen G. White
HE who said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not,” still invites mothers to bring their little ones to be blessed of him. Even the babe in its mother's arms may dwell as under the shadow of the Almighty, through the earnest faith of that praying mother. The first and most urgent duty which the mother owes to her Creator is to train for him the children that he has given her. “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right.” Infant children are a mirror for the mother, in which she may see reflected her own habits and deportment. How careful, then, should be her language and behaviour in the presence of these little learners. Whatever traits of character she wishes to see developed in them, she must cultivate in herself. When children repose confidence in their mother and love and obey her, they have learned the first lessons in becoming Christians. They must love and trust and obey Jesus, as they love and trust and obey their parents. The love which the parent manifests for the child, in faithful care and right training, faintly mirrors the love of Jesus for his children. In view of the individual responsibility of mothers, every woman should develop a well-balanced mind and a pure character, reflecting only the true, the good, and the beautiful. The wife and mother may bind her husband and children to her heart by unvarying love, shown in gentle words and courteous deportment. Politeness is cheap, but it has power to soften natures which would grow hard and rough without it. Christian politeness should reign in every household. The cultivation of a uniform courtesy, a willingness to do by others as we would like them to do by us, would banish half the ills of life. The principle inculcated in the injunction, “Be ye kindly affectioned one to another,” lies at the very foundation of domestic happiness. God designed that persons of varied temperament should associate together, that by mutual consideration and forbearance, prejudices might be softened, and rough points of character smoothed. Marked diversities of disposition and character frequently exist in the same family; when this is the case, each member of the household should sacredly regard the feelings, and respect the rights of all. Thus harmony may be secured, and the blending of the varied temperaments may be a benefit to each. Christian courtesy is the golden clasp uniting the members of the family in bonds of love that become closer and stronger every day. Many a home is made unhappy by the useless repining of its mistress, who turns with distaste from the simple, homely tasks of her domestic life. She looks upon the cares and duties of her lot as hardships, and that which might be made not only pleasant and interesting but profitable, becomes the merest drudgery. Many who do well under favorable circumstances seem to undergo a transformation of character under adversity and trial; they deteriorate in proportion to their troubles. God never designed that we should thus be the sport of circumstances. We are not responsible for circumstances over which we have no control, and it is useless to deny that these often affect our life work; but we commit sin when we permit circumstances to subvert principles; when we are unfaithful to our high trust, and neglect our known duty. The wife and mother is frequently so occupied with her household cares that she becomes thoughtless of the little courtesies which make home pleasant to the husband and children. While she is absorbed in preparing something to eat or to wear, the husband and sons come in and go out as strangers. Very many who find nothing attractive at home, who, perchance, are continually greeted with scolding and murmuring, seek comfort and amusement in the dram-shop or in other forbidden places of indulgence. The mistress of the household may perform her outward duties with exactness, while at the same time she is comparing her lot with what she styles the higher life of woman, and cherishing unsanctified longings for an easier portion, free from the petty cares and exactions that vex her spirit. She little dreams that in that widely different sphere of action to which she aspires, trials fully as vexatious, though perhaps of a different nature, would certainly beset her. While she is fruitlessly yearning for a different life, she is by her sinful discontent casting from her the blessings which a kind Providence has already granted. The true wife and mother will pursue an entirely different course. She will perform her duties with dignity and cheerfulness, not considering it degrading to do with her own hands whatever it is necessary for her to do in a well-ordered household. If she looks to God for strength and comfort, and in his fear seeks to perform her daily duties, she will bind her husband to her heart, and see her children coming to maturity honorable men and women, having moral stamina to follow the example of their mother. There is no chance-work in this life; the harvest will be determined by the character of the seed sown. Mothers may neglect present opportunities, and let their duties and burdens fall upon others; but their responsibility remains the same, and they will reap in bitterness what they have sown in carelessness and neglect. Mothers, your influence and example are affecting the characters of your children. Your compassionate Redeemer is watching you with love and sympathy, ready to hear your prayers, and to render you the assistance which you need in your life-work. Joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, and charity are the elements of the Christian character. These precious graces are the fruit of the Spirit. They are the Christian's crown and shield. The most exalted aspirations can aim at nothing higher. Nothing can give more perfect content and satisfaction. These heavenly attainments are not dependent upon circumstances, nor the will or imperfect judgment of man. Our Saviour, who understands our heart-struggles and the weakness of our natures, pities our infirmities, forgives our errors, and bestows upon us the graces which we earnestly desire. Jesus knows the burdens of every mother's heart. He is her best friend in every emergency. His everlasting arms support the God-fearing, faithful mother. That Saviour, who, when upon earth, had a mother that struggled with poverty, having many anxious cares and perplexities, in rearing her children, sympathizes with every Christian mother in her labors. That Saviour who went a long journey for the purpose of relieving the anxious heart of a Canaanite woman whose daughter was possessed by a devil, will hear the prayers of the afflicted mother of to-day and will bless her children. He who gave back to the widow her only son, as he was carried to the burial, is touched to-day by the woe of the bereaved mother. He who wept tears of sympathy at the grave of Lazarus, who gave back to Mary and Martha their buried brother, who pardoned Mary Magdalene, who remembered his mother when he was hanging in agony upon the cross, who appeared to the weeping women after his resurrection, and made them his messengers first to spread the glad tidings of a risen Saviour,—he is woman's best friend to-day, and is ready to aid her in her need if she will but trust in him. If Jesus is woman's friend and helper, surely the husband, the father of her children should not feel it beneath his dignity to sympathize with the mother in her cares, and assist in bearing her burdens. He should feel the sin and littleness of adding to her trials by bitter words. He should manifest a noble generosity of spirit toward her, not watching with a critic's eye every little neglect on her part, every failure to meet his peculiar ideas. Christ respected and honored woman. There is not an instance in his entire life wherein by word or act he gave the least encouragement to speak or think disparagingly of woman, or gave the impression that she was not to be respected and honored equally with man. In order to be a good wife and mother, it is not necessary that woman's nature should be utterly merged into that of her husband. Every individual being has a life distinct from all others, an experience differing essentially from theirs. God does not want our individuality lost in another's; he desires that we shall possess our own characters, softened and sanctified by his sweet grace. He wants to hear our words fresh from our own hearts, and not another's. He wants our yearning desires and earnest cries to ascend to him, marked by our individuality. All do not pass through the same exercises of mind, and God calls for no second-hand experience. Our compassionate Redeemer reaches his helping hand to us just where we are. Though Jesus has ascended to Heaven, he has not lost his sympathy for you, mothers; he looks with tender love upon those whom he came to redeem.