tressed. He wanted his boy to have an expensive electric train. He immedi ately went down to the store and picked out the best he could find. The third cartoon showed the father down on the floor playing with his little boy and the elaborate new train. The fourth picture was exactly the same as the first except that the electric train was in the comer with no fascination for the boy. He was engrossed in pushing the milk cartons and blocks once again. YOU FORGOT MY SOUL You lived next door to me for years, We shared our dreams, our joys and tears. A friend to me you were indeed, A friend who helped me when in need. My faith in you was strong and sure. We had such trust as should endure. No spats between us ever rose. Our friends were like— and so, our foes. What sadness, then my friend, to find, That after ail, you weren't so kind. The day my life on earth did end I found you weren't a faithful friend. For all those years we spent on earth You never talked of second birth. You never spoke of my lost soul, And ‘of the Christ who'd make me whole! I plead today from hell's cruel fire, And tell you now my last desire— You cannot do a thing for me— No words today my bonds will free— But— do not err, my friend again— Do all you can for souls of men. Plead with them now quite earnestly— Lest they be cast in hell with me. Children don’t need expensive toys, but they do need something. May our prayer be that God will guide us, giving discernment so that we may provide the things necessary for our children for good physical bodies to avoid all the habits of evil. May our homes be places where chil dren are loved, wanted, accepted and desired.
Chapter Four L iterature in the home is one of the most valuable ways of guid ing our children into spiritual truth. It is difficult for a young man or for a young woman to keep pure in mind and thought with all kinds of evil literature around. While speaking in a certain college a young man came to me and said, “I ’m deeply troubled. I have developed a habit of self abuse. The reason for it is that one day I went into my fa ther’s room. He didn’t know that his dresser was unlocked. I knew I shouldn’t, but I began snooping about. Here I found some of his lewd pictures and magazines. I began to read them and my mind was filled with all kinds of lust. I’ve never been able to get over this terrible self abuse. How do I mas ter it?” We talked of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, about cleanliness of thought, and about controlling the mind through the power of the Holy Spirit. The cleansing power of our Lord Jesus Christ can cover every sin, but the scars of the tragedy still re main'. We ought to avoid bringing into our homes anything which would cause our children to have temptations in any manner. How many times do you find any thing that deals with the kingdom of God in the magazines and books found in the average home? How many re ligious periodicals do you take? Is there something that a young person can pick up to feed his soul? As parents we are also responsible for the control of these things which affect, mold and even militate against the development of the child. What about the televi sion? Do you just let it go on and on day after day? There was a study made in one of our children’s homes in an eastern city. A study was made of the affect ocean pictures had on the sleep habits of a child. They were not now concerned about the quality of the picture but about the excite ment that resulted. The group which 7
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