Parental Training of Children

Manuscript Release #803

Parents, you are to exemplify Christ in your speech and your actions, and in your duties in the home life.
You are to a large degree responsible for the salvation of the children whom you have brought into the
world, and your example before them should be of that nature that it will mold their characters in
accordance with divine principles.
We are instructed to teach our children line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a
little, teaching them to live as in the presence of God, showing them the requirements of God's Word,
and explaining to them their duty concerning them. If your children are disobedient, they should be
corrected. But do not punish in anger. Before correcting them, go by yourself, and ask the Lord to soften
and subdue the hearts of your children, and to give you wisdom in dealing with them. Never in a single
instance have I known this method to fail.
You cannot make a child understand spiritual things when the heart is stirred with passion. At such
times I would say to my children, We will wait until your bed hour, and then we would talk the matter
over and see what was best to be done. I would pray with them, and would tell them that I could not
have my children displeasing the Lord and grow up to disregard His requirements. I do not know of a
single instance when this plan failed. They would throw their arms around my neck, asking my
forgiveness and promising to do differently.
Do not strike your children a blow until everything else had failed. Many times you will find that if you
will reason with them kindly, they will not need to be whipped. And such a method of dealing will lead
them to have confidence in you. They will make you their confidant. They will come to you and say, I
did wrong today at such a time, and I want you to forgive me and to ask God to forgive me. I have gone
through scenes like this, and therefore I know. I have adopted children, and have tried to bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and I had success in this work. I thank the Lord with heart
and soul and voice that I can see today some of these children occupying responsible positions in the
work of God. I am thankful that I had courage, when they did wrong, to deal with them firmly, to pray
with them, and to keep the standards of God's Word before them. I am glad that I presented to them
the promises made to the overcomer, and the rewards offered to those who are faithful.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, the apostle writes, for this is right. Honour thy father and
mother, which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with thee, and that thou
mayest live long upon the earth (Ephesians 6:1-3). But who is going to teach these children to honor
God, unless the father and mother teach them? Who is going to teach them what that promise means, if
not their parents? There is nothing, parents, that will give your children such strength of character as to
bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let them see that discipline is a part of God's
purpose for them. He wants us to harmonize with His plans, not allowing the children to grow up
careless and unrestrained, but to submit to the will and the guidance of His Spirit.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet
shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye
shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Give it to your children as their weapon against evil.
Frequently my spirit has been deeply wrought upon as I have stood before the people to see a quarrel
going on in the congregation between a mother and her child. Sometimes my soul has been so hurt by
this sight that I could hardly go on with the discourse.
My brethren and sisters, where is your strength and efficiency for the doing of this work? The apostle
presents it to you in the words, Praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. You must be prepared to listen to
counsel from others. Do not feel that it is no business of your brethren or sisters how you treat your
children, or how your children conduct themselves.
Parents should not allow visitors to take the time that should be given to their children. If a neighbor
comes in to visit you at a time when your children require your attention, tell your visitor pleasantly, but
firmly, that you have not time to spare, that your children demand your first attention. (10MR 101-105)
It is the privilege of parents to give to their children an example, in life, in words, in actions, that will
help them obtain a fitness for the kingdom that Christ would have them enter.
Parents, when difficulties arise in your families, do not speak severely. Often we may pass over the
offense as unworthy of notice. If you have been in the habit of speaking in passion; if you have allowed
your children to do as they please, you must give account for this to the Master. You must answer for
the education you have given them, for the mold of character you have placed upon them. There are
none who want to have judgment passed upon them because of neglect. God forbid that you should
hear the words spoken to you, Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. Rather let us strive that we may
hear the blessed words of commendation pronounced upon the obedient.
Let there be no impatience, no fretfulness. You will meet things that are provoking, but do not be
provoked. When the heart is stirred by a spirit not of God, at such times silence is eloquence. Your very
silence will have a convincing power. We must be thoroughly converted if we would do our appointed
work in the world. This is no cheap fancy work, but a work that calls for heart service, for diligence, and
the strength of divinity united with our humanity. It requires determination of purpose to lead souls to
accept the truth as it is in Jesus.
Parents, begin to work without delay. Let your powers be sanctified to God. Let your hearts come into
harmony with His Holy Spirit. Let your hold upon God be strong. Wrestle with Him until you can say, I
know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25),
and I shall stand with Him because I seek to carry out His will in the earth.
All heaven is interested in your salvation, and angels of God are waiting to do for you what they did for
the early disciples on the day of Pentecost. Do your duty to your children, and for those who are
ignorant of the truth. Carry out the teachings of the Word in your homes. You must stand in harmony

with the God of heaven if you would lay hold of divine power. Humanity may reach divinity through faith
in Christ. Then humanity can reach out to humanity, imparting the hope of the gospel to souls who are
perishing out of Christ.Manuscript 75, 1909, 4-6. (10MR 111-112).
[The above are only excerpts. If you go to egwwritings.org you can read the manuscripts in full.]