GocJ Woii er j rom m y own mother’s life, and from the lives o f other mothers, I have ' gleaned the following suggestions. They have meant much to me and I pass them on to you for what they are worth. A good mother walks with God. A good mother “ looketh well to the ways of her household.” However, if ever she must choose between being a good housekeeper or a good mother, she w ill know which to choose. A good mother is a good disciplinarian w ith enough self-control to punish adequately and promptly when necessary, not excusing the offense or postponing punishment because o f weariness at one time, and then being overly severe another time, because she doesn’t feel well. In other words, a good mother will not let her children become the victims of her disposition. A good mother in disciplining w ill be firm but patient. She will try to get to the root of the trouble, recognizing the difference between mis behavior arising from illness, fatigue or hunger and that arising from original sin. A good mother w ill listen to the child’s viewpoint and be reasonable. A good mother realizes that her greatest responsibility js teaching her children about God their Father, and Christ their Saviour and her greatest privilege is leading each child, as soon as he can talk, to Christ. A good mother w ill be faithful in teaching day by day, not just on Sundays, drawing illustrations of God’s love and care from the or dinary happenings of every day. (Deut. 11:18, 19.) A good mother w ill be careful to teach her children to pray daily, to love their Bibles, to love and respect God’s house, to honor old people, to be kind, honest, courageous, diligent. In other words, the importance o f behaving as well as believing right. A good mother “ opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law o f kindness.” A good mother is a good listener, always interested in everything, careful not to kill confidence or betray it. A good mother will not provoke her children to anger lest they be dis couraged. (O r as Phillips puts it, “ don’t over-correct your children lest they be discouraged.” ) A good mother not on ly teaches, she lives. A good mother, looking daily to the Lord for guidance, w ill faithfully and lovingly train up her children in the w ay they should go. Then knowing that through God’s faithfulness they w ill not depart from it when grown, she w ill in the meantime en joy them to the fullest. A good mother w ill put the happiness of her fam ily ahead o f financial advancement (except when an absolute necessity). N o salaried position or commercial career, however attractive, would convince her she should entrust her children to others while she le'aves home and works. A good mother considers marriage the most wonderful o f careers and herself the most privileged person on earth. A good mother unselfishly serves h er-fam ily but not to the point of allowing them to grow up selfish and inconsiderate o f others. A good mother uses every opportunity to develop love and congeniality among her children. A good mother is a companion as well as a teacher, a playmate as well as a guide.
Mrs. Billy Graham,
mother of four
and wife of
America’ s best-
known evangelist,
gives 2®
pointers on
being a good mother
R u t k C jr a li am
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