An Important Lesson by Mrs. M. J. Bremmer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1902

An Important Lesson

By Mrs. M. J. Bremmer

MRS. M. J. BREMMER

ONE of the first lessons the wise mother teaches her children is orderliness. We all know that “cleanliness is next to godliness,” and surely orderliness must rank next to cleanliness. The children should be taught to keep their playthings where they belong. Even when very young, they know whether they may leave their toys scattered over the floor, or whether they must put them back in their places. If they learn to put these things where they belong, they will find it easier when a little older to keep their clothes and rooms in order. Then, when they are grown, there will be no lesson of orderliness to learn—the habit will have become established, and will be a real benefit, a saving of time, temper, and, in many cases, money.

It is so easy for the boy to throw his hat on to the floor or hang it on a chair, and then the hat cannot be found. Try the plan of giving him a hook or a nail in a convenient place for his hat, another for his coat. Impress on his mind that these are for his own individual use. Give the rest of the family to understand that they are private property, and one, only one, may use them. It will soon be an understood fact where the hat and the coat belong, and this will do more toward making the boy neat and careful with his belongings than would any amount of preaching.

This is for the girls, too. Let the parents show no partiality. Our girls must also be taught orderliness.