PARENTS, DON'T! by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1901

PARENTS, DON'T!

By L. A. S.

Don’t try to train up your young children upon the theory that knowledge is power. In the sphere of morals, knowledge is not power, and is oftentimes a source of weakness rather than of strength. Knowledge does not come first in the divine system; but “add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge,” etc.

Parents, don’t lead your little innocent children to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Don’t take the fruit of that tree and give it to them. Remember the fate of Eve. Little children have no great amount of will power. Curiosity is with them a much stronger force to lead them into evil than you can put into their untrained minds to keep them from it.

“Heaven lies about us in our infancy.” There is a blissful ignorance which is the birthright of every child. Don’t take it from him: it is the complement of his innocence. Let the little bud open according to the laws of its nature. Don’t take hold of the delicate petals and force them open with your fingers; if you do, you will have a sorry-looking flower. Your business is not to force the child,—not to anticipate nature,—but to provide the conditions under which nature can work to the best advantage. Provide the bright sunshine, the refreshing rain, and the pure atmosphere, and let the little plant develop according to the laws of its being, which represent omnipotent power and wisdom.

How then shall we keep evil away from our little children, if not by telling them about it before they have learned it? The answer is, By keeping them active in that which is physically and morally healthful. Keep their little minds full of what is pure and wholesome. Keep them employed. Don’t expect them to find proper employment for themselves. It is not enough merely to provide them a few playthings, and then leave them to themselves. Take time to find some occupation for them every day that is pleasing, instructive, elevating. Make this part of your business, and let it cost you something if necessary. No other business you can be in will pay so well in the end.

“Overcome evil with good.” Fill the mind constantly with good, and thus keep evil continually crowded out. Thus good will be constantly assimilated into the character, and by and by when the age is reached where the child must come in contact with the evil of the world around it, the love of that which is good will hold it against the influences that lead the steps of youth in the downward path. L. A. S.