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WHERE TO BEGIN

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 24, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 52.

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WHERE TO BEGIN.

By Luella B. Priddy

MRS. LUELLA B. PRIDDY. (Lindsay, Ontario.)
Many women have felt in their hearts a desire to do something for the cause of God. Then, when they thought of their many household cares which were absorbing every bit of energy of both mind and body, they have concluded there was nothing they could do. They have thought that they were too busy to form a habit of regular reading and study. And it is really a task to get out of the customary routine. But the Lord never calls to any duty without standing ready to supply the needed wisdom and grace and opportunity.
The Lord takes us just as we are, and just where we are. He is a kind, considerate Father, and knows all about our circumstances. Not all can go abroad, or labor in a public way. But all can be home missionaries, and all families are called upon to be neighborhood missionaries.
“But,” says some busy, tired mother, whose hands and heart are full every day, “what can I do? I have to sew and cook, wash and sweep, and take care of the children.”
We do not need to leave our appointed task to do missionary work. That very work is our mission field. Let the habits of life be as simple as possible, that there may be time to teach the word of God to the children. The experience gained in teaching the truth in such a simple way that young children may understand, will make the truth clearer to our own minds, and make us better fitted to carry the light to our neighbors.
Explain to the children the reason why we live as we do. Tell them that we should live on a wholesome diet, and take good care of our bodies, so that our minds may be clear, and that we may be strong to do God’s will; teach them that we should not waste time in needless display on our clothing, or in our houses, for we are expecting Jesus to come, and we must have time and strength to get ready, and to help other people to get ready, and that all who are not ready will lose eternal life. Tell them about the beautiful home Jesus has gone to prepare, and that there will be no sin there. Show by daily acts and words that it is the one thing for which we live. Tender little hearts will gladly receive the truth, and the mother will experience the joy that can only come by imparting light to others.
The children will want to help. Allow them to help mamma get her work done, so that they will have time to study the Bible together, and learn what God wants us to do, and that we may have more time to visit our neighbors and help them. Little children can catch the spirit of helpfulness and self-denial that is necessary to make them missionaries for God.
We can cultivate a habit of talking about divine things, so that it will be easy to speak of Jesus to our neighbors.
The truth is to be taught line upon line. A little effort at a time regularly kept up, will accomplish much more than a greater effort put forth in a spasmodic way. It is just so in presenting the truth to our neighbors.
It is a good plan to give them a tract or a paper regularly for a sufficient period of time for them to get a connected idea of the chain of truth. If we get a subscriber for a paper or book, we should, if possible, visit him and offer more literature.
Every time we meet a neighbor in a social way, we have an opportunity to do good. With a prayer in our hearts that our eyes may be opened, we shall be surprised at the many things that we find to do.
Women like to talk about their children and their domestic duties. We who have the light of health reform, and are taught by the Spirit of Prophecy, may be a great help to others by coming close to them in a neighborly way. As they speak of their troubles and perplexities, we may point them to Jesus. There is scarcely a topic of conversation that cannot be turned into helpful channels.
“Every church-member should feel it his special duty to labor for those living in his neighborhood. Study how you can best help those who take no interest in religious things. As you visit your friends and neighbors, show an interest in their spiritual, as well as in their temporal, welfare. Present Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour. Invite your neighbors to your house, and read with them from the precious Bible, and from books that explain its truths. This, united with simple songs and fervent prayers, will touch their hearts. Let church-members educate themselves to do this work. This is just as essential as to save the benighted souls in foreign countries. While some feel the burden of souls afar off, let the many who are at home feel the burden of precious souls around them, and work just as diligently for their salvation.”
“The hours so often spent in amusement that refreshes neither body nor soul, should be spent in visiting the poor, the sick, and the suffering, or in seeking to help some one who is in need.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 276.
If the children see that the chief object of our lives is to carry the message to the world, it will impress them with its importance as nothing else can.
Just notice some mother as she is making new clothing for the children to wear on some holiday occasion, or preparing unusual dainties for the dinner. The children, by observing how absorbed she is in getting ready for the day, catch the enthusiasm, and their minds are full of joyful anticipations, and the coming holiday is the one theme of conversation. In the same way they may learn divine truth.
Do not be discouraged because opportunities seem small. Faithfulness in the every-day duties of life may bring great and eternal results. Who can estimate the value of a soul saved in the kingdom?