An Appeal to Mothers by Rev. J. M. Johnson

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 17, 1878

An Appeal to Mothers.

By Rev. J. M. Johnson

MOTHERS! cherish a deep and constant sense of your own importance to your children, especially to your sons. Take the high and responsible position which God has assigned you as your own, and strive, by his grace, to fill it. Remember that God has chosen to make the parental, and particularly the maternal, relation, a chief instrumentality in extending the knowledge of his truth, and building up his church. Remember that Jesus calls you to be workers together with him in preparing jewels for his crown of glory. Strive, therefore, to illustrate the beauty and power of the maternal character; assert and maintain your authority; make it lovely and winning.

Your difficulties and trials are great; but abundant help is offered for your time of need, and great will be your reward if you are faithful. Shrink not from your duty, for the consequences of your unfaithfulness will be terrible. "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame;" terrible to you as well as to them. Attempt not your duty alone. The blessedness of bringing up children for God, to be workers in his earthly vineyard and heirs of his heavenly kingdom, is inconceivable and eternal. The sorrow and woe of training them to be cumberers of the ground, or bond-slaves of Satan and heirs of perdition, who can imagine it? Let no spurious love or false tenderness lead you to indulgence or neglect, which will surely prove fatal to your own peace and happiness, as well as that of your children.

Remember that you cannot delegate to another the authority and influence which God has given you as mothers. If you try to do so, you will only rob and destroy yourselves and your children. Surely, you would not have others take the rewards which belong to you. It is for you to say, at the judgment, "Lord, here I am and the children whom thou hast given me." What motives for personal piety press upon you!—Rev. J. M. Johnson.