p. 75 | A Good Reason

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 6, 1861

A Good Reason.

A PARENT called on his pastor for counsel in regard to the education of his children. “I have often,” said he, “regretted that I have not received an education, but never so often as since I have had children to educate. I am not able to do anything for them in that matter.”

“Their religious education is of more importance than their intellectual education,” said the pastor. “That you are competent to conduct.”

“Very far from it. I met with a thought, the other day, which made a great impression upon me. It was, that the habitual state of mind and feeling which we express before our children, will do more than any direct instruction to form their character. I found in that thought an additional motive for desiring growth in grace. If for no other object than that we may educate our children aright, it seems to me we should desire to grow in grace.”

“I have no doubt the most effectual way of benefitting children, is to set before them in our lives the qualities we desire them to possess—the characters we wish them to form. In all our efforts, we should seek by fervent prayer the aid of divine grace.”—N. Y. Observer.