Parental Responsibility by Mrs. H. E. Warner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 25, 1909

Parental Responsibility

By Mrs. H. E. Warner

MRS. H. E. WARNER

“PARENTS need to be impressed with their obligation to give to the world children having well-developed character,—children who will have moral power to resist temptation, and whose life will be an honor to God and a blessing to their fellow men. The work of the mother is sacred and important. She should teach her children, from the cradle up, habits of self-control.”

Many mothers wait until the children are three or four years old before beginning their training. While mothers are waiting for the children to grow, Satan is molding their young lives, and they become wilful and headstrong. Children are apt students. Before they can talk, they learn how to manage their mothers so as to get their own way.

An orphan boy, just past his fourth birthday, had drifted from one place to another, till he finally found a home with a Christian family. For a few days all went well. One morning he asked for papa’s chisel, which was refused him, with an explanation. He persistently teased for the tool. The mother simply said No, and paid no more attention to him. From teasing he went to crying, from crying to screaming and pulling his hair. This he kept up for about half an hour, the mother all the time busy writing at her desk.

After a while the screaming ceased, and the little fellow walked over to the desk. After watching his mother for a few moments, he said, “You are a funny woman.”

“Why am I funny?” the mother asked. “Because,” said the child, “you are. In other places, if I wanted anything, I teased for it till I got it. If I did not get it by teasing, I cried. If I didn’t get it then, I would scream till I scared them, and then they had to give it to me. I’ve tried all these ways, but didn’t scare you, and I didn’t get the chisel; now tell me why.”

The mother took him up in her arms and told him why,—that, first of all, he must learn that mother told the truth, that when she said no, it meant no, and no amount of teasing would change it;

if at any time mother was in the wrong, she would come to him and tell him so: but as she had to obey Jesus in order to be happy, he must obey mother, then all would be happy.

I tremble for the children who are forming characters in this degenerate age. I tremble for the parents also; for they do not realize their obligation to train up their children in the way they should go.

Let woman realize the sacredness of her work, and in the strength and fear of God take up her life mission. Let her educate her children for usefulness in this life and for a home in the better world; and let the education begin while the child is in the cradle.

Clintonville, Conn.