Counsels on Health - Ellen G. White

seek also to develop their mental powers, and to
imbue their hearts with right principles. But how
often are beauty of character and loveliness of
temper lost sight of in the eager desire for outward
appearance! O parents, be not governed by the
world’s opinion; labor not to reach its standard,
Decide for yourselves what is the great aim of life,
and then bend every effort to reach that aim. You
cannot with impunity neglect the proper training of
your children. Their defective characters will
publish your unfaithfulness. The evils that you
permit to pass uncorrected, the coarse, rough
manners, the disrespect and disobedience, the
habits of indolence and inattention, will bring
dishonor to your names and bitterness into your
lives. The destiny of your children rests to a great
extent in your hands. If you fail in duty, you may
place them in the ranks of the enemy and make
them his agents in ruining others; on the other
hand, if you faithfully instruct them, if in your own
lives you set before them a godly example, you
may lead them to Christ, and they in turn will
influence others, and thus many may be saved
through your instrumentality.
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