Precious, no doubt, are these little ones in our eyes, but if we love them we will think often of their souls. No interest will weigh with us so much as their eternal welfare. No part of them should be so dear to us as that part which will never die. The world with all its glory shall pass away, but the spirit which dwells in those little creatures, whom we love so well, shall outlive them all, and whether in happiness or misery (to speak as a man) will depend on us. This is the thought that should be uppermost in our minds in all we do for our children. How will this affect their souls?
To pet, pamper and indulge our child, as if this world were all he had to look to, and this life the only season for happiness — to do this is not true love but cruelty, and it is not fidelity to Christ either.
A faithful Christian must be no slave to fashion, if he would train his child for the Lord. He must not be content to do things merely because they are the custom of the world, and especially the religious world with its popular but unwarranted traditions, such as Christmas and Easter (Gal. 4:1010Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (Galatians 4:10); Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)), nor is it protecting them by allowing them to read the vain comics and books of a questionable sort, merely because everybody reads them. What can bring the world into the home more than television? He must not be ashamed to hear his training called singular and strange. What if it is? The time is short — the fashion of this world passes away. He that has trained his children for heaven rather than for earth — for God rather than for man — he is that parent that will be called wise at the last. “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:1717And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (John 2:17)).