I GAVE THEM MYSELF

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 29, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 26.

“I GAVE THEM MYSELF.”

SAID a mother to me one day: “When my children were young I thought the very best thing I could do for them was to give them myself. So I spared no pains to talk with them, to read to them, to teach them, to pray with them, to be a loving companion and friend to my children. I had to neglect my house often. I had no time to indulge myself in many things, which I should have liked to do. I was so busy adorning their minds and cultivating their hearts’ best affection that I could not adorn their bodies in fine clothes, tho I kept them neat and comfortable at all times. I have my reward now. My sons are ministers of the Gospel; my grown-up daughter is a Christian woman. I have plenty of time now to sit down and rest, plenty of time to keep my house in order, plenty of time to indulge myself, besides going about my Master’s business wherever He has need of me. I have a thousand memories of their childhood to comfort me. Now that they have gone out into the world, I have the sweet consciousness of having done all I could to make them ready for whatever work God calls them to do.”—Life and Faith.