Importance of Early Training by GEO. O. STATES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 25, 1912

Importance of Early Training

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES

“AND when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maid walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.”

When the child had grown, and was tending “the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,” the Lord said:— “I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

Who can estimate the influence of early training in the preparation Moses received for the great work God had called him to do?

My earliest impressions in life are those given me by my praying mother. In 1852 my father and uncle went to California, and my mother and aunt lived in the same house. An Adventist minister held meetings in our schoolhouse. My mother did not attend the services, but my aunt became interested, and coming into our rooms, talked the truth. Finally mother told her she did not care to hear any more, that the good old Wesleyan Methodist Church satisfied her. My aunt did not again mention the subject to her. This worried me so that I used to leave my play, go into the bedroom behind a curtain, and, kneeling by a large trunk, say, “O Lord, those commandments! O Lord, those commandments! O Lord, that Sabbath! Help my mother to keep it.”

Finally my mother went to my aunt and said, “My sister, if you have any light for me on this Sabbath question, I want to understand it.” Soon mother commenced to keep the Sabbath, and was baptized. Mother always had family worship. My father made no profession, but usually knelt with us in prayer. Mother’s quiet home life soon led father to accept the message.

In my long experience in the ministry I have seen the importance of early training in many homes. About fifteen years ago I visited a family one member of which was a little girl two years of age. She was playing that she had prepared a meal, and invited me to eat with her. When we were seated, she waited a moment looking at me very earnestly, and then said, “You say it,” meaning that I should say grace. I was embarrassed and answered, “You say it.” With her it was all a reality. She bowed her head, folding her hands reverently, and repeated a little prayer she had learned.

This family always had morning and evening worship, and would never partake of a meal until a blessing had been asked. Such impressions with little ones are never forgotten.

We live in a time of rush and worry:

and there is danger of our becoming so burdened with the cares of this life that we may often neglect these important Christian duties. We owe it to our children to give them the training that will prepare them to go out and endure the temptations of life. Cedaredge, Colo.