HIGHER MOTIVES | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 14.

HIGHER MOTIVES.

PARENTS can not be too careful in holding up the highest ideals before their children. There is all the difference in the world between worthy and unworthy motives for doing the same act. A few days ago a mother was heard reprimanding her little daughter in this wise: “There, Ethel! Mrs. Lee heard you say those naughty words to your brother. What will she think of you?” Not a word about the right or the wrong of the naughty words, only that they had chanced to be overheard, and would create an unfavorable impression upon the mind of the visitor. What impression can the child possibly receive but that the principal harm in saying naughty words is that they may be overheard? How much better to judge all such things by the one standard of right or wrong; to bring all actions to that bar for testing, so that a child shall habitually ask himself before doing or refraining from doing an act, “Is it right?” Precept must be backed by example, too; for a child is not long in finding out whether his parent’s preaching and practise correspond.—Advance.