Aged Parents
275
no better recommendation in this world than that a child has honored
his parents, no better record in the books of heaven than that he has
loved and honored father and mother
Ingratitude to Parents—Is it possible that children can become
so dead to the claims of father and mother that they will not willingly
remove all causes of sorrow in their power, watching over them with
unwearying care and devotion? Can it be possible that they will not
regard it a pleasure to make the last days of their parents their best
days? How can a son or daughter be willing to leave father or mother
on the hands of strangers for them to care for! Even were the mother
an unbeliever and disagreeable, it would not release the child from the
obligation that God has placed upon him to care for his parent
Some Parents Are Responsible for Disrespect—When parents
permit a child to show them disrespect in childhood, allowing them
to speak pettishly and even harshly, there will be a dreadful harvest
to be reaped in after years. When parents fail to require prompt and
perfect obedience in their children, they fail to lay the right foundation
of character in their little ones. They prepare their children to dishonor
them when they are old, and bring sorrow to their hearts when they are
nearing the grave, unless the grace of Christ changes the hearts and
transforms the characters of their children
[362]
Show No Retaliation Against Unjust Parents—Said one of her
mother, “I always hated my mother, and my mother hated me.” These
words stand registered in the books of heaven to be opened and re-
vealed in the day of judgment when everyone shall be rewarded ac-
cording to his works.
If children think that they were treated with severity in their child-
hood, will it help them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ,
will it make them reflect His image, to cherish a spirit of retaliation
and revenge against their parents, especially when they are old and
feeble? Will not the very helplessness of the parents plead for the
children’s love? Will not the necessities of the aged father and mother
call forth the noble feelings of the heart, and through the grace of
Christ, shall not the parents be treated with kind attention and respect
by their offspring? Oh, let not the heart be made as adamant as steel
4
Ibid
.
5
Ibid
.
6
Manuscript 18, 1891
.