Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

Parents' Need of More Divine Guidance
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.
God desires us to deal with our children in simplicity. We are liable to
forget that children have not had the advantage of the long years of training
that older people have had. If the little ones do not act in accordance with our
ideas in every respect, we sometimes think that they deserve a scolding. But
this will not mend matters. Take them to the Saviour, and tell Him all about
it; then believe that His blessing will rest upon them.
Children should be taught to respect and reverence the hour of prayer.
Before leaving the house for labor, all the family should be called together,
and the father, or the mother in the father's absence, should plead fervently
with God to keep them through the day. Come in humility with a heart full of
tenderness and with a sense of the temptations and dangers before yourselves
and your children; by faith bind them upon the altar, entreating for them the
care of the Lord. Ministering angels will guard children who are thus
dedicated to God. It is the duty of Christian parents, morning and evening, by
earnest prayer and persevering faith, to make a hedge about their children.
They should patiently instruct them, kindly and untiringly teach them how to
live in order to please God.
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