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A Word to Parents

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 32.

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A Word to Parents

By M. E.

In a recent letter a Missionary Volunteer secretary relates the following experiences:—
“When we as secretaries get the true spirit of service, and can inspire those under our watch-care with the thought that the aim is ‘Every one won for Christ,’ we shall see of the salvation of God. ’Tis a noble work, and how my heart aches as I see the children of Sabbath-keepers drifting into the world! A few days ago I was in the station waiting for my train, when in came a crowd of children, and many of them had their parents with them. They proved to be the public-school children in a place where we have a good church-school, and they had been on a picnic. After the picnic, the teacher had taken them to the theater, and among the number I counted three mothers who had been members of our church, and one was for years the most enthusiastic librarian and deaconess. All the children were below the eighth grade, and most of them still going to our Sabbath-school. Some of these parents would not allow their children to come to the church-school for fear they would not keep up in their grades with the public school. It was a picture to make angels weep.
“I am so thankful for some strength to work still for the youth in my conference, and am praying for grace to be wise in winning souls.
“Someway it seems as if we were too late; for what can we expect of the children when the parents pursue such a course as one mother, who is a member of our church, did recently? When her girl said, ‘I am going to learn my Sabbath-school lesson, and go to Sabbath-school to-morrow,’ the mother replied, ‘Won’t you be too tired to go there and attend the grange in the evening?’ The daughter attended the grange.
“Well, I am comforted to-night with the text, ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’ And I know there is not, and the Lord is strong to save to the uttermost.”
Will not the parents who read the experiences just related renew their covenant to cooperate with God for the salvation of their children? Will you not ask yourselves the question, “Lord, is it I? is it I who am responsible for the waywardness of my children?”
M. E.