p. 13 | Truthfulness by E. G. Reavis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1914

Truthfulness

By E. G. Reavis

MRS. E. G. REAVIS

HONESTY of purpose in a man counts for much in life, when founded on a just estimate of himself, and a constant obedience to the principles he knows and feels to be right.

“No man,” said Benjamin Rudyard, “is bound to be rich or great—no, nor to be wise; but every man is bound to be honest.” But the purpose, besides being honest, must be inspired by sound principles, and pursued with undeviating adherence to truth, integrity, and uprightness. Without principle, a man is like a ship without a rudder or compass, left to drift hither and thither with every wind that blows. Talent is by no means rare in the world; nor is even genius. But can the talent be trusted? Can the genius?—Not unless based on truthfulness, on veracity. It is this quality, more than any other, that commands the esteem, the respect, and secures the confidence of others.

Truthfulness is the foundation of all personal excellence. It exhibits itself in conduct. It is character in action, and shines through every work and deed. It means reliableness, and convinces others that it can be trusted. One is already of consequence in the world when it is known that he can be relied on; that when he says he knows a thing, he does know it; that when he says he will do a thing, he does it. Thus reliability becomes a passport to the general esteem and confidence of mankind.

The principles of truth and uprightness have their beginning in early life, in the home, where habits are formed and characters molded either for good or for evil. It is in childhood that the mind is most open to impressions, and is, like fire, easily kindled. Ideas are then caught quickly and maintained throughout life.

Childhood is life’s human mirror reflecting in afterlife the images first presented to it. The first things usually continue forever with the child. The first joy, the first sorrow, the first success, the first failure, the first achievement, all contribute to the painting of the background of his life. The child cannot help imitating that which it sees. Everything—manner, gesture, speech, habit, character—is to him a model. Models for children are, therefore, of great importance in molding the nature of the child; and if we would have them have good characters, we must necessarily present before them good models. Now, the model most constantly before every child’s eye is the mother.

Example is far more than precept. It is instruction in action. It is teaching without words, often exemplifying far more than language can teach. In the face of bad example the best of precepts are of but little avail. The example is followed, not the precept. Indeed, precept at variance with practice is worse than useless, inasmuch as it only serves to teach the most dreaded of vices—hypocrisy.

As children have some conception of consistency, the lessons of the parent who says one thing and does the opposite, are teaching the children to do what the parents do rather than what they say. If you would know something of the impressions made upon a child through home influences, watch the little girl playing with her doll. Here is an instance: A mother heard her little one scolding her dolly in no uncertain tones, for some imaginary wrong, using the exact words her mother had used to her. This led the mother to ponder. She changed her method of discipline, and, sure enough, later on, Miss Dolly received milder treatment.

Another mother noticed her little girl playing “visit” with her dollies. She had one dolly calling on another. The home dolly expressed great delight upon seeing her visitor, and urged another call real soon. That sounded very cute to the mother, who was listening; but imagine her consternation when, the visitor having gone, the home dolly said she hoped she would not come again, because she was not a nice dolly anyway.

Untruthfulness exhibits itself in many forms: in exaggeration; in disguise or concealment; in pretended concurrence in others’ opinions; in making promises, or allowing them to be implied, which are never intended to be performed; or even in refraining from speaking the truth when to do so is a duty. If a child is allowed to exaggerate when relating an incident, without due correction, until he forms a habit, he soon receives the idea that the exact truth is not necessary. While it is true that young children play with words without understanding all they mean, yet by careful watchfulness and example they can easily be taught to distinguish the difference between truthfulness and untruthfulness.

To gain truthfulness in our children, to have it a part of their nature, it is imperative that we persistently watch

for even slight deviations from the facts, and insist upon the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. There are many instances of early impressions made upon a child’s mind, springing up into good acts, late in life, after an intervening period of a sinful life. Parents may do all they can to develop an upright and virtuous character in their children, and it may apparently be in vain. It seems like bread cast upon the waters and lost; and yet sometimes it happens that long after the parents have gone to their rest, it may be twenty years or more, the good precepts and the good example set before their sons and daughters in childhood, at length spring up and bear fruit. One remarkable instance of this kind was that of John Randolph, an American statesman. He said, “I should have been an atheist if it had not been for one recollection, and that was the memory of the time when my departed mother used to take my little hand in hers, and cause me, on my knees, to say, ‘Our Father which art in heaven.’” We have this promise left us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

So, then, let us as mothers take courage while faithfully performing the duties lying at our door, as the home missionary worker, for the precious little souls intrusted to our care. It is not enough to feed and clothe their bodies; our greatest concern is to feed their little minds with the fruit of the Holy Spirit; to clothe with the cloak of right doing, or righteousness.

Therefore, if we would have truthfulness in our children, we must be truthful ourselves—truthful in words, truthful in motive, and truthful in example.

Takoma Park, D. C.