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Unconscious Teaching

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 12, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 19.

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Unconscious Teaching

By Mrs. D. A. Fitch

MRS. D. A. FITCH
“MAMA wants to go over to Mrs. Smith’s a minute. Be good children, and I’ll be right back.” The mother left the house, not thinking of the promise she had just made, and like many another careless one, was totally unconscious of the lesson she was about to teach, which was one more added to scores of others of like character.
Five minutes pass, and the little ones wonder how long a minute really is. If it takes sixty such periods to make an hour, it is sincerely hoped mama will not ever say she is going away for that length of time. They have been taught never to meddle with the stove, but the wood has burned low, and the room is getting cold. Could the little children read the clock, they would find they had been alone nearly an hour. Some minutes more elapse, and the mother returns with never so much as an explanation of her long absence; so the children take it for granted she was gone only a minute.
It is nearing supper time, so Tom and Jennie are told to pick up and arrange their playthings, making ready for the evening meal with papa. “In a minute,” is the prompt reply; but measuring duration by mama’s scale, they think they yet have time sufficient for a long play.
The children have grown older by several years since the occurrence of the incident above mentioned, and find some of their amusements away from home with playmates no better versed in time observance than they are themselves. Having been taught to regard carelessly the passing of time, they are not to be depended upon to obey promptly or to keep promises with any degree of accuracy. These and kindred habits strengthen with their years, and go with them through life only to be reproduced in their children, unless the converting power of God’s grace shall eradicate false ideas and wrong habits from the mind and life.
Parents, be careful what kind of legacy you are preparing to leave your children; for every evil trait woven into their character must be eradicated therefrom, if they are finally saved with you in the kingdom of heaven. Upon your knees confess to them and to God your mistakes, asking for help that these wrongs and their dire results may be eliminated, and a pure record be written for you and your children in the heavenly books.