Kindness to Parents

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 3, 1878

Kindness to Parents.

Not long since, writes a correspondent, as I took my seat in the cars for a day's ride, I observed, seated opposite me, an elderly lady and a middle-aged gentleman, who I inferred, from some casual remark, had been traveling a day or two. It was a very early hour in the morning, and the lady was apparently sleeping.

We rode in silence for some time, when the lady awoke, and I heard the gentleman address her as mother. His dignified, unobtrusive manner, and the tender, deferential tone of voice, at once drew my attention to them, and having no company, my thoughts were my own.

All the tender care which a mother could bestow on an infant child, was given by that son to his mother. The slightest movement on her part to adjust her furs, or cloak, or overshoes, or any change of position, called forth his ready hand in assistance, and the inquiries, "Are you comfortable, mother? Do you feel tired? Lay your head on my shoulder, and rest yourself."

At noon the cars stopped for the passengers to obtain refreshments. It was snowing too fast for the mother to get out of the cars, and the son brought her a cup of coffee.

"Is it just right, mother?" he inquired, as she tasted it.

"A little more cream would make it better; it is, however, very good as it is," was her reply.

"Let me get you some more."

"No my son—it will make you too much trouble; it is very good as it is."

He went out, and soon returned with the cream, and poured a little into the coffee, and then a little more till it was "just right." He then sat down by her side, and I heard him say, in the same low tone of voice that at first attracted my attention, "I am glad, mother, that I can do anything to make you comfortable, it is such a pleasure to me."

"I thank you, my son," she replied, in the same spirit and tone of voice as that of her son.

Beautiful, thought I, as I quietly watched them, and saw manifested their mutual love and confidence. My mind went back to the time when this son, now in manhood's strength, was a little helpless infant, and I pictured that mother watching over him, caring for him with a solicitude such as mothers only can feel. And through all the years of childhood and youth, to manhood, the watchful eye was over him, the guiding hand ever ready to lead, and a mother's love ever ready to restrain him from doing wrong. Now it is his turn, when life's meridian with her is past, and the infirmities of age are creeping on, to repay her, in some degree, for all the labor bestowed on him; and faithfully and affectionately did he seem fulfilling his duty. How many grown up sons there are who seem to feel it beneath them to show any tenderness for their mothers! It is feminine, they say. They will perform acts of kindness, but in a business kind of way, or because it is their duty, little dreaming that they are crushing the maternal spirit by such cold, heartless acts.

Acts of kindness, done in the spirit manifested in the incident above mentioned, have an untold influence. The pathway down to the grave would be cheered, made even joyful, and old age would be exempt from much of the gloom that is often experienced.

The reflex influence is also great. A young man who is habitually tender of his mother, and deferential to her, will make a good citizen, a true friend, and will be faithful in all the walks of life.—Sel.