MRS. LUELLA B. PRIDDY by Luella B. Priddy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

MRS. LUELLA B. PRIDDY

By Luella B. Priddy

Talks With a Nervous Mother— No. 2

MRS. LUELLA B. PRIDDY

“Is it possible for a frail, nervous woman always to be serene and pleasant?” you ask. Is there a limit to God’s grace, Mrs. Allison? You may be a blessing to your family even though you may not be able to reach your ideal as a housekeeper, but you must do it in God’s way.

I am no advocate of slack housekeeping. A delicate woman may often accomplish much by eliminating unnecessary embellishments. There are some things that it would be right to do, if the doing of them would not crowd out more important matters. By careful planning, you can so arrange your work that your hardest tasks will usually come on the days when your strength is the greatest.

When you feel that you have reached the limit of your strength, drop down on your couch, close your eyes, and let every muscle relax. Drop your cares from your mind, and meditate on the precious promises of God. A few moments frequently spent in this way will strengthen you, and make life a joy instead of a burden. A restful spirit makes labor less fatiguing. “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” Prov. 4: 20-22.

Your chief work is to save the souls of the little flock committed to your care. Take time to become acquainted with your children. Teach them to open to you their hearts. You will thus be able to discover the first impress of evil, and can point them to the better way. Go outdoors and enjoy the life-giving air and sunshine with them. You need it, and so do they. Do you say that you have not the time for such recreation? Let me assure you, Mrs. Allison, that you will do more work in a year if you spend some time in this way, and you will do it more cheerfully.

A constant struggle with physical weakness sometimes tempts you to feel despondent. Do not allow yourself to feel that your life is in vain, because you can not accomplish all that you would like to do. A woman who maintains a cheerful spirit may always be a help to her family and her friends.

Did you ever think that the Lord has made the strongest promises to the weakest ones? The sturdy sheep may walk beside the Shepherd, but he carries the delicate lamb in his bosom. Get your Bible, and we will read some of its promises. “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isa. 40: 29. Do the tasks of the day seem unusually heavy? Read Deut. 33:25: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

Does your trembling faith fail to grasp these promises? Read Isa. 35:4: “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong.” “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Prov. 17: 22. Meditation upon the precious promises of God will do more for you to lift you out of a discouraged state of mind than anything else can, and you will feel stronger for your work.

Our Saviour knows all the cares and heartaches that a mother feels. He

came to this earth a helpless infant in the arms of a human mother.

Mary must have been a woman of many cares. It is supposed that she was the second wife of Joseph, and that she was not only a mother, but a stepmother also. She maintained her family on the slender income that could be provided by a poor carpenter. She knew all about toil and privation. But a home that sheltered the Lord Jesus could not fail to be a happy home.

Jesus is acquainted with the needs of busy, tired mothers. Let him come into your home, and carry your burdens.

Ellesmere, Ontario.