NOT LOVE, BUT SELFISHNESS.
THERE are many parents who desire their children to ever be with them, to ever be at home. Openings may present themselves for the child's good; opportunity for a broader, deeper, better education than the child could obtain at home; opportunity for becoming surrounded by better religious influences may be presented; a place may be offered him for doing active service in the cause of God. But these openings would take him away from home, for a time at least, and the parents object. They admit that it would be better for the child, but O! they love him so that they can not bear to have him away from them. So the child remains, petted, idle, selfish, indolent, ignorant, an easy prey to the tempter, and the parents mourn over his sad course, and wonder why the child whom they so loved should thus develop character. The fact is, they did not love the child for the child's good, but for their own pleasure. Their love was a selfish love. The child's ways pleased them; his presence was cheering to them. They loved him just as the child loves his plaything. They love him for themselves. True love for an individual seeks that individual's highest good. The true lover of God seeks the honor and glory of God. He eliminates self. He seeks the good of self only as this good will enable him to glorify God. So if parents really love their children, they will seek the highest good of the child, even though it sacrifices their own feelings. The right way, the true way, is always the better way, and that which will ever work for the greatest good of all concerned. Is it selfishness or love which rules us?