For Every Christian Home:
THE FAMILY ALTAR
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by Elizabeth Walker Strachan
S o m e t h i n g v e r y wonderful happens to a woman the day she becomes a mother. It is impossible to describe it, but there sweeps over her an over whelming desire to be for, and to do for, this little baby all that is best. We have a Mother’s Day to commemorate the innumerable daily sacrifices and the wearying hours of labor that most mothers give to fulfill that deep desire. But possibly one of the saddest things in the world is that blind mother who gives so much but who never gives that which is truly best. One is reminded of the foolish girl who was given a two- carat diamond which came in a beautiful little box. The girl put all of her delight and attention on the little dollar box and utterly ignored the valuable jewel within. However, that is not nearly so ab surd or tragic as the sight of an eager mother, giving infinite pains to the clothing and health of her child, yet ignoring the immortal soul within that some day will have to stand before its Maker. We all want to be good, successful parents. But who are the truly good, successful parents? I f we pause to think, I’m sure we’ll agree that the only true measure of success is if our children grow up to be pleasing in God’s sight, if they grow up to obey that first and great commandment — to love the Lord their God with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind. If we suc ceed here and fail in all else, we are still good parents; and by the same token, if we succeed in all else but fail here, we are of all parents most miserable. After such a solemn thought, one feels
like bowing in God’s presence and pleading for a new supply of His enabling grace. How could such a high and holy aim ever be achieved? How have parents in the past produced godly children? Without hesitation, I’m sure we would agree from observation that by far the two greatest factors in a parental Christian heritage are prayer and holy living. There is absolutely nothing that a parent can bequeath his children comparable to earnest, daily, fervent prayers in their behalf coupled with a memory of holy, exem plary living. The richest children in the world are the children of praying parents who live before them humble, sincere, loving, Spirit-filled lives. The above is ever so much more important than what follows. Notwithstanding, there is yet some thing else that parents can do to fulfill their dream of raising their children in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Moses spoke about it to the children of Israel when he counseled them: “ . . . these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou best down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:6, 7). When parents obey this commandment, they have in their homes the ideal family altar. All families are different and are run along different lines. However, most families can be divided into one of two groups: the traditionalist- type of a family that is run on system and order
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T H E K IN G 'S BU SIN ESS
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