Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students - Ellen G. White

earth!
One great reason why there is so much evil in
the world today is that parents occupy their minds
with other things to the exclusion of the work that
is all-important--the task of patiently and kindly
teaching their children the way of the Lord. Parents
should allow nothing to prevent them from giving
to their children all the time that is necessary to
make them understand what it means to obey and
trust the Lord fully.
Before visitors, before every other
consideration, your children should come first. The
time spent in needless sewing, God would have
you spend in educating them in essential things.
That unnecessary garment you are making, that
extra dish you think you will prepare--let it be
neglected rather than the education of your
children. The labor due your child during its early
years will admit of no neglect. There is no time in
its life when the rule should be forgotten, Line
upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and
there a little. Deny your children anything rather
182