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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 20, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 12.

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HOME

By S. L. Guernsey

Who can be happy without a home? What sweet recollections linger about the most humble home. How we look back to the home of our childhood, and dream bright dreams of a future home; and we will spend years of our life to make those dreams actual realities. As we go beyond this life of sorrow and care, and by faith catch a glimpse of the home of the soul, how it thrills our hearts with unutterable gratitude to Him who has gone to prepare “a mansion” for us in that bright world to come.
How we should endeavor to make these earthly homes pure and beautiful. It is not the grand mansion or the elegant furniture that makes the home; but love, and kind words, and pleasant smiles, and harmony will make the plainest cottage a type of Heaven. The ideal home is the mother’s realm; and if she rules by the power of love, what a noble queen she is, and how willingly her subjects pay her homage.
While home is largely what the mother makes it, the father is the provider and guardian, and his responsibility is just as great as the mother’s. The science of making home happy is one of the most important subjects of study; for the homes of the nation shape its destiny. Let us not forget the power and influence of our homes on individuals and society, and let us endeavor to make them the glad refuge of the old and young.
Teach the children that there is no place this side of Heaven so lovely and beautiful as their home; that it is their duty to be pleasant and agreeable, and make others happy; and that they and their companions are always welcome here. Bring, make, and do everything in the home that your means will allow,—books, music, flowers, paintings, statuary, easy chairs, and comfortable furniture. But first of all bring love to God, one another, and humanity; for love is the only power that can rule the heart wisely.
There are many who are making happy homes the ambition of their lives, and it is one of the highest, noblest, grandest achievements that can be attained. No laurels of fame can compare with the assurance that we have made a complete, perfect home. Even death cannot mar it. We are but passing to another home to await the coming of our loved ones. S. L. GUERNSEY.