Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

upon his soul. He should be determined to make the most decided efforts to
save his children.
Counsel in the Number of Children
Children are the heritage of the Lord, and we are answerable to Him for
our management of His property. In love, faith, and prayer let parents work
for their households, until with joy they can come to God saying, "Behold, I
and the children whom the Lord hath given me."
God would have parents act as rational beings and live in such a manner
that each child may be properly educated, that the mother may have strength
and time to employ her mental powers in disciplining her little ones for the
society of the angels. She should have courage to act nobly her part and to do
her work in the fear and love of God, that her children may prove a blessing
to the family and to society.
The husband and father should consider all these things lest the wife and
mother of his children be overtaxed and thus overwhelmed with
despondency. He should see to it that the mother of his children is not placed
in a position where she cannot possibly do justice to her numerous little ones,
so that they have to come up without proper training.
There are parents who, without consideration as to whether or not they
can do justice to a large family, fill their houses with these helpless little
beings, who are wholly dependent upon their parents for care and instruction.
This is a grievous wrong, not only to the mother, but to her children and to
society.
A child in the mother's arms from year to year is great injustice to her. It
lessens, and often destroys, social enjoyment and increases domestic
wretchedness. It robs their children of that care, education, and happiness
172