p. 8 | She Rules the House by P. G. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 6, 1911

“She Rules the House”

By P. G. C.

P. G. C.

THESE words were spoken to a friend by a thoughtless and indulgent mother in reference to her five-year-old daughter, who stood near.

But, mother, if she rules the house now, she will rule the house when she is older. If she is not ruled by you now, she will never be ruled by God. This will be a sad reality to you when it is too late. When a few years have been added to her age, she will meet temptations to which she will never say “No,” because she has never submitted to you, and has, therefore, never learned submission to God.

“Man’s righteousness is as but filthy rags,” and his wisdom is the same; therefore seek God with the desperation of a drowning man, for the wisdom from above, to guide you in the rearing of your daughter if you care to spare her from the agonies of the last days, which may be but a few short years ahead. “Work out your own salvation [and that of your daughter] with fear and trembling.” If a young child “rules the house,” the one whom God designed should rule it has deserted his or her post. The ruling of the house is a delicate matter; for the eternal salvation of the children is involved in it. While this also is a work that will be undertaken in fear and trembling, yet there is a fountain of wisdom and help and guidance open to all who have such work to do. And one of the requisites of doing this work aright is that it be done in prayer. This shows how the purpose of God is thwarted when a child is permitted to “rule the house.”