MOTHER'S INFLUENCE by Mrs. A. G. Bodwell.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 29, 1900

MOTHER'S INFLUENCE.

By Mrs. A. G. Bodwell.

MRS. A. G. BODWELL.

NONE of us is without an influence. From day to day, as we tread the path of life, our words, actions,—yes, and even facial expressions,—play their part in turning our fellow travelers toward earth or heaven.

There is no one, I believe, who carries so much of this dangerous though valuable property as a mother.

If a mother's influence is what it should be in the home, neither evil men nor angels can overthrow her work. But, on the other hand, if her influence is thrown on the wrong side of the balance, it is hard indeed, if not almost impossible, for the minister, Bible worker, and teacher, combined with the Spirit of God, to undo the mischief of early years.

My heart has been made sad many times, as I have seen mothers actually schooling their children in a wrong course, when really their desire was to train them aright.

Old habits and customs cling to one with such a tenacity that they are woven into the very existence, and nothing but the Holy Spirit can make us see that we are sinning against God in what we are apt to consider the unimportant side of life—the minor details—trivial affairs. But, sisters, there is a deal of truth in the words, “There is nothing unimportant in our lives;” for God says that by such little things as words, we are to be either condemned or justified.

My purpose is not to censure, but to bring to some mother’s mind things which, mayhap, she has not seen in this light before.

First, let us take the babe in arms. There is nothing so sweet, so pretty, and so cunning in all its little ways, as “our” baby. Yet many a mother will, upon his being noticed by a visitor, laughingly tell you, “He’s a regular little rogue,” or, “He’s mamma’s bad boy,” then smother him with kisses, as if that were something to be proud of, or a thing to be commended.

If you were coolly to inform one of these mothers that she has a very bad child, her mother-heart would be touched, to say the least. But is she not either teaching her child that it is a virtue to be bad, or else giving him his first lessons in falsehood and deceit?

After the child is older, he may do something, or say something, which, though really wrong, proves to her mind his brightness and precocity. How often will the mother speak reprovingly, when by her countenance she betrays to him that she thinks it an immense joke!

To be sure these antics may seem very interesting and harmless, but when we realize the fact that we are God’s under workers in the heavenly pottery, and are molding characters for time or eternity, we shall be very careful of our assent or dissent on all occasions.

I remember one mother giving her child her first lesson in cruelty. It was on this wise: In taking off a brood of young chickens, she found one so badly deformed that, to end its sufferings, she thought best to kill it. So calling the oldest child,—a tender-hearted little thing,—she bade her kill it. Unable to control her emotions, the child burst into tears, and asked to be excused. At this juncture, a younger child came up, not too late, however, to hear mother laugh and call sister “chicken-hearted.” Then turning to the younger, said confidently, “—— will kill it!” This child was no doubt just as tender-hearted as her sister, but being thus praised, all the pride and self-importance that a four-year-old head and heart contained, rose, and smothering a sob, she quickly accomplished the deed.

She will never forget the heavy little heart she carried then; but one thing led to another, until, upon reaching a thinking age, she was startled to find herself almost devoid of pity or compassion, having crushed them down simply because she fancied mother admired the trait in her.

It has been said, and truly, that “mother’s eyes are baby’s skies; mother’s smiles are baby’s sunshine; mother’s tears are baby’s rain.” This holds good long after baby has dropped his long skirts, and, as it were, lost the scales from his eyes. So, dear mothers, in conclusion I would say, Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, and by all means, do everything to the glory of God, and you will never give a bad lesson, or leave a wrong impression.