ing college and university for a good many years and have never seen a boy or girl in a college class sucking his knuckle. They usually get over it and we ought to exercise patience. Those of us who are Christians and want our children to live circumspect lives some times ought to fall over backwards to give them an appreciation of our love. King David wailed and wailed when Absolom was killed. He said, “Would to God I had died for you Absolom.” Scripture tells us he wouldn’t let his son even come into his presence at times; he continually ostrasized him. OUR HEAVENLY HOME Our earthly homes are simple things, of plaster and of board, Sometimes as humble as the nest built by a wildwood bird. And yet through all our lives our hearts cling to the childhood home Of hallowed, precious memories, no matter where we roam. And so I often think about how dear, how very dear Our heavenly home will come to be with every passing year. That home where we shall meet and dwell with loved ones gone be fore, And sometimes, looking up, shall see our Lord come through the door. O lovely home, where fulfilled joys become rich memories. And ever sweeter pleasures crowd age long eternities! — Martha Snell Nicholson Do we let the child have encourage ment and the money it needs? There is a danger in being stingy as well , as in being overly indulgent, if we teach the child that authority is under the Lord, then he understands that we are not the sovereign judge but simply standing in the place of our Lord for the instruction, blessing and guidance of his life. This is our most important calling and this is the reason why God gave children parents. A child doesn’t want you to die for him, dear parent. He wants you to live for him!
Chapter Fourteen W e must never forget that the chief instructors of a child should be the father and mother. We are responsible for the guidance of our children in the ordinary things of life. We must -give them ample and satis factory explanations of their physical bodies. We instruct them in the proper kinds of values: cultural, moral and eternal. We are grateful for all that public schools and churches do. However, the obligation rests upon us to instruct them. How well are we doing it? Does the little child have to pick up the knowledge of procreation from the streets or are we, as Christian fathers and mothers, placing it in their hands in wisdom and love? We want them some day to be wed in holy wedlock, heirs together with their spouse of the grace of life. But what are we doing about proper instruction along these lines? Are we teaching them courtesy and honesty? Are we helping them to be free from race prejudice and all the evils of men, even as we ourselves are? If you teach these things well in an atmosphere of love, the child will learn and learn well. The school systems have limitations and weaknesses. An intelli gence quotient measures the ability of your child to do well in school in such things as mathematics and various skills. It does not measure a lot of fac tors such as musical aptitude or any social quotient. It, of course, cannot measure character value either. Our young son had an unusually high ability. He was given problems before he went to school and, hence, did very well in the first grade. In second grade I got a note from his teacher saying, “If your son doesn’t do better I’m going to send him back to the first grade.” AH within a year’s time. I was deeply concerned and went to see the teacher. The problem was he was bored with his work books and wasn t bothering to do his assignments.
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