Look upon your children as Jacob did on his: He tells Esau they are “the children which God hath graciously given thy servant” (Gen. 33:5). Look upon them as Joseph did on his: He told his father, “They are my sons, whom God hath given me” (Gen. 48:9). Count them with the psalmist to be “an heritage of the Lord” (Psa. 127:3). See how Manoah speaks to the angel about Samson: “How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him” (Judges 13:12). Observe how tenderly Job cared for his children’s souls: He “offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all,” for he said, “It may be my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually” (Job 1:5).
Parents, if you love your children, go and do likewise. You cannot name their names before the mercy-seat too often.
Fathers and mothers, you may send your children to the best of schools and give them Bibles and fill them with head knowledge, but if all this time there is no regular training at home, I tell you plainly, I fear it will go hard in the end with your children’s souls.
Children have mixed the bitterest cups that man has ever had to drink. Children have caused the saddest tears that man has ever had to shed. Adam could tell you so; David could tell you so. There are no sorrows on earth like those children have brought upon their parents.
Oh, take heed lest your own neglect should lay up misery for you in your old age.
“Pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward Him for the life of thy young children” (Lam. 2:19).
We cannot close this little pamphlet without a word of warning against two innovations of recent years — radio and television — which the devil is using to bring the world, with all its degrading influences, into the home. Television, with its corrupt programs, is surely his latest masterpiece, and Christian parents are warned to be on their guard.