Teaching Children How to Overcome Sin by Luella B. Priddy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

Teaching Children How to Overcome Sin

By Luella B. Priddy

Child-Saving—No. 3

Teaching Children How to Overcome Sin

MRS. LUELLA B. PRIDDY

THE best theories of child culture sometimes fail, because the parent does not recognize the fact that the child is tempted to sin in just the same way as are his elders. There is a wily foe on our track, and we must watch and pray lest we enter into temptation; and the same tempter is seeking to ensnare the children.

The parent may have the privilege of exercising faith for the child until he is old enough to believe for himself. “Even the babe in its mother’s arms may dwell as under the shadow of the Almighty, through the faith of the praying mother. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. If we will live in communion with God, we may expect the divine Spirit to mold our little ones, even from their earliest moments.” — “Desire of Ages,” Trade Edition, page 609.

The child is influenced by the Spirit he sees manifested in his presence, even when he does not understand the reason.

A child’s fault can often be corrected best when he is in an agreeable frame of mind, if he is old enough to understand. We can talk matters over with him, and let him know that we have temptations too. Then we can tell him how we have won the victory, and he will be encouraged to conquer himself. In this way the heart of parent and child will be bound together.

A little girl of a lively disposition was reproved for her mischievous pranks. A neighbor remarked that she did not do that way when she was a little girl. The child concluded that she was not like other people, and not understanding what she had done that was wrong, concluded that the neighbor did not like her, or she would not talk that way. If we have not done just the thing that the child is doing, we have done other things that are sinful, and we would better acknowledge to them that we have had our faults also. Then we can point them to the only One who can take away sin.

A mother who had a child with a violent temper did everything she knew how to do to conquer her, but with little apparent success. The poor baby would kick and scream, and persist in not obeying. At last the mother dropped upon her knees, weeping, for she knew the child would be lost unless she overcame her sinful tendencies. She pleaded with the Lord to help the little child to do right. The screaming child became quiet, put up her lips for the kiss of reconciliation, and began laughing and crowing softly to herself, and saying, “I is a good baby now.” This mother learned to go to the Lord in prayer with the child when these outbursts of temper came, for her own failure had taught her where to find help.

It is in such scenes as this that the child learns to wrestle with God for himself. Often the Lord shows us our weakness, that he may reveal his strength. Happy is the man who can remember that sacred little corner in mother’s room, where she knelt with him, and taught him how to seek God for overcoming grace. The fragrance of that place will perfume all the years of his life.

We can not realize too clearly the importance of that self-discipline that enables us to turn our minds from the allurements of the tempter, and place them upon God and his truth. We can teach our children to do this, but it is a daily work. When their minds are bent upon foolish and trivial things, it is a good plan to start some good hymn in which they can join, and thus gently lead them to something better. Committing to memory texts of Scripture is another good practise.

If the open Bible is kept in a handy place, a pair of sharp eyes can read a text now and then. And while they are busy at their household tasks, let each try to repeat the text, until all have it “by heart,” as the children say. The hands will not work less swiftly because the mind is feasting on these good things, but the daily toil will seem lighter. It is possible to sow the seed of the good grain so thickly that many of the weeds are crowded out.

Christ said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. The Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance the texts that we know. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God; and there is no other weapon for the children to use than this. “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.” Deut. 6:7.

Markham, Ontario.