Directing the Footsteps of the Young

 

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Last Updated on : Saturday, October 11, 2014

 

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NOT the least among present-day problems peculiar to sisters in the home, is the need for resisting modern influences upon the minds of the young. In counteracting these influences, the sister, in her capacity as mother, commences the wise training of her children in their earliest years. Their minds and hearts are directed into a knowledge and love of God, and a deep reverence for His Holy Word. First impressions cling tenaciously, and greatly influence youthful dispositions. It is upon the rock foundation of Holy Writ, therefore, that the God-fearing mother prayerfully and regularly builds up the characters of her children. She instructs, directs, counsels and warns. She sedulously engenders an earnest Jove for "whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report." Unquestioning obedience is insisted upon, and, where necessary, due correction administered and punishment inflicted. Unlike their worldly contemporaries, her children are taught that disregard of divine matters, disobedience to parents and discourtesy to elders, are displeasing to God. In the opinion of the modern generation, an upbringing of this kind is old-fashioned and narrow minded.

To prevent the infiltration of these pernicious influences, a God-fearing mother is untiring in her efforts and unceasing in her vigil. She adopts practical ways and means of keeping the world outside, and of maintaining that high standard of holiness, which from the children's early days has been fostered and preserved. Divine matters are given first pJace in the daily programme, and the family united by the sanctities of the Truth. The home is a school of wise discipline, where precept and example are practised and understood. Healthy and profitable recreation is arranged during periods of holiday; the children are taught to appreciate the beauties of the universe, and to know the joy of healthful activity. They gradually begin to realize the need for, and value of self-denial and service, and to esteem the privilege which such knowledge confers. They are trained to take their places as useful members of the family circle - the boys drilled into polite and gentlemanly behaviour, and the girls acknowledged as "mother's right hand." Their companions are selected from those whose bent is in a godly direction. Their taste for reading is encouraged, though their choice of books is closely scrutinized and carefully supervised. Educational and instructive books are good, and are allocated a place on the bookshelf, but no unwholesome novel or magazine is found in the household where godliness is practised and purity prevails.

Thus, in wisely directing and guiding the footsteps of the young, in inculcating the need for reverence and respect, in radiating a spirit of happiness and love, in discoursing upon the glorious truths of God, in repelling and excluding the influences of the world, in attaining and maintaining high morals and ideals. in developing and cherishing a love for things divine, through difficulty and trial, in season and out of season, is found the path of true parental wisdom, and the full meaning of the words of Scripture, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."- v.v.

 


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