THE WANTS OF THE CHILDREN by Mrs. Lilla D. A. Stuttle

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 20, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 21

THE WANTS OF THE CHILDREN.

By Mrs. Lilla D. A. Stuttle

The wise man says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” If this language is true, as we must admit, what fearful responsibilities rest upon us as teachers and parents. God has kindly given us the little ones, that by wise and judicious training we may prepare them for a life that is eternal. Oh, how carefully ought we to live before them! How quickly their little faces reflect the ill-tempered frown, or the pleasant smile! It is my serious opinion that a child, of all others, should never be addressed in any other than a pleasant tone of voice.

Jesus says it were better that a millstone were hanged about our neck, and that we were drowned in the depth of the sea, than that we should offend, or discourage, one of his little ones. Parents, some of our own dear children have lately evinced a love for their Saviour. Shall we, by our coldness and inattention, chill all the love and tenderness in their young hearts? This may be done much easier than we at first imagine. A frown may do it. A harsh word may do it. A neglect of duty on our part may wound the tender spirit beyond hope of recovery.

If the mother daily permits the petty cares of life to worry and annoy her to that degree that she becomes peevish and irritable, the sensitive little ones very soon think, if they do not speak, something like this: “I wonder if mother is really a Christian! If she is, I don't want to be one!” I do not think the angels come very near people that scold.

I once heard a very affecting story of a dear little girl. She had one day, by accident, overturned a dish of flour, when she received such a harsh rebuke from that mother who should have been all love and tenderness toward the little plant God had given her, that the grieved, broken spirit of the child could never recover from the smart. The little one was taken with a fever, and in her wild delirium she would murmur over and over again: “Mother, will there be room for little Mary in Heaven? Won’t I be in the angels’ way?” And oh how mournfully those words sounded in the mother’s ear, years after her little one was sleeping ’neath the daisies. She would give worlds to recall them, but in vain.

Again, do not forget to pray with your children. In after years, when temptation comes, as it surely will, mother’s prayers will be to your child what the pole-star is to the storm-tossed mariner. Teach them to believe that the great God hears their little prayers, and that the answer to the prayer of faith is sure and certain. A child is easily encouraged, but just as easily discouraged.

Parents may think they have done their duty by their children; but just so sure as the child wanders from the good way when he becomes older, it is good evidence that there is a serious fault somewhere. Had nothing essential been omitted by the parents, the child which is now the shame and reproach of their declining years, might have been a crown of glory to their head. Then do not neglect the children now, as you value your eternal peace. Pray with them; talk with them; sympathize with them; appreciate and prize them tenderly, that should the hand of death rudely snatch them from your arms, you may not feel the pangs of remorse added to those of sorrow.

Many changes have taken place since I was a child; but neither time nor trouble can ever efface from my memory the many times my mother has taken me by the hand, and leading me to a quiet place, has there knelt down before God and earnestly commended her child to him. I believe God heard those prayers, and answered them.

There is much to encourage us to faithfulness in this matter. Shall we not feel well repaid for our labor and prayers, if, by-and-by, we may, with the dear little ones by our side, sit down in the kingdom of glory? God grant that there may be an awakening on this subject, of all others the most important, that at last we, with the children whom God has given us, may shine as the sun and the stars, forever, even forever and ever, in our Father’s kingdom.

MRS. LILLA D. A. STUTTLE.