Your ShelfYour Projects

A Warning Example

6%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 30, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 26.

Read the full edition

A Warning Example

A SAD case of maternal neglect of duty, and its awful results to both herself and her children, was recently brought to my notice, and knowing from the evidence of things that such is undoubtedly the prevailing condition in many homes of our land,—and, it is feared, even in Seventh-day Adventist homes,—I am burdened to write it for the benefit of the readers of the REVIEW, hoping that it will awaken some mother to a realization of her neglect of duty.
The one to whom I make reference is the mother of a large family of children who were once just as innocent and susceptible of training in the way they should go as were many who have been reared to a noble life-work by the prayers and influence of a godly mother. But these children never heard a mother's prayer, nor saw her shed an anxious tear for them, seldom saw her read the Bible, and never heard her speak a pleading word for the salvation of their souls, though she belongs to the church, and professes to be a Christian.
The particular place and time to which my attention was called in this sad incident was their home on a certain Sunday—a day professedly honored by the mother, but which does not bring the blessing attending the honoring of the true Sabbath of rest, the holy day of God. Isa. 58:13, 14.
On the day mentioned the whole family was a babel of confusion and irreverence. There was no accord nor harmony nor love in that home. Every one's hand was against the other. It was a seat of Satan's power, and he held full sway therein. The forenoon was taken up in attending to the various kinds of both necessary and unnecessary (on the Sabbath) housework, and in the preparation of the midday meal; all of which caused more or less friction, and many a hard and quarrelsome word, which drives love away, and destroys the peace, harmony, and happiness of what ought to be “home, sweet home.”
The afternoon and evening were spent in even worse forgetfulness of God. The children scattered off into various pursuits of pleasure, amusement, and revelry, while the old folks remained at home, reading the accounts of crime and vice in the newspapers, and sleeping off the weary hours in order to rest up from the fatigue of the morning's work.
The oldest son sat reading a novel in a certain place of ease, wholly oblivious of his waning opportunities to be a blessing, which he once could have been had he followed the better inclinations of his youth. He has given up what better aim he ever did have, for that which is not bread, and which does not satisfy. He was smoking a mind- and soul-destroying cigar, and dreaming and scheming for this life, with no thought of God's love or of the life to come. He is a slave to the god tobacco, and it is plainly to be seen that he has degenerated from the moral standard which he possessed before he began to smoke. Yet his mother never seems to see his downward course. Apparently she is unable to apprehend that his once promising possibilities for making something useful of himself are passing forever; and she does not pray for him.
The second son spent the afternoon at the ball game, the evening and forenight he squandered his God-entrusted talents at a “blind” gambling game, and wound up his day's unnaturalness by a clandestine meeting before returning home to his wife and children, who had spent the day alone. But his mother never prayed for him.
The third son spent the day hanging around a darktown saloon and a place overrun with brothelry, with no mother's prayers ringing in his ears to convict his conscience.
The fourth son, who once confessed conversion, escorted his fiancée to the theater, where a weird and deceptive dramatization of a popular novel was being played. No prayer of a mother guarded him against the dangers of that night.
The daughters, left at home practically alone, sought pastime in reading some cheap and trashy novels, many of which the mother allowed to be brought into their home. The mother never prayed with or for them, never gave them kind and loving motherly advice, but many times scolds them very shamefully.
Thus passed one brief day with this godless family. Some of these children, when small, used to speak of the things of God in their simple, childlike way, and liked to sing the beautiful hymns that make a home like heaven; but how different it is now! They hate the pleading words and stories of those noble souls, who, like their dear, lovely Jesus, are giving their all to the cause of rescuing and uplifting the poor unfortunate sinner.
And is not all this because this mother does not read her Bible and do her duty to the children whom God has entrusted to her care,—because she does not step out upon the promises of God, and like the mothers of Samuel, Timothy, and even a host of present-day mothers, serve God to the salvation of herself and her children? But this mother has put her trust in the popular preachers, and does not see the need of searching the Scriptures for herself. One of her children, to whom the Lord has been merciful all his life, is trying to live a Christian life against all the odds in this dark and unhappy home; but the mother has never taken any interest in his Christian desires and plans. If the mother would do her duty, she and her son could, according to the promise, work together for the souls of the rest of the family with gratifying results. Matt. 18:19, 20. But she does not seem to realize her duty, and is apparently unconcerned about her children going down to ruin without God and without hope, when, if she would do her duty, God has promised that her children could be saved. Alas, for such a sad condition in a home where prayer and supplication never ascend from a mother's heart! God grant that this and all other like mothers may see their danger, and accept this as a warning before it is too late.
Mothers, do your duty now, and your children will some day thank and bless you amid the joyful ecstasy of the redeemed state; but if you continue to neglect your duty, there is nothing but unhappiness in this life, and no part in that which is to come, for both you and your neglected children. Choose today whether you and your children will be saved or lost. “Better late than never.”
The love of Jesus and a mother's love form a power that no man nor devil can overthrow; and this power is at your command. Will you accept it? Let the love of Jesus come into your own hearts, and it will impress and enable you to do your Christian duty.