with Dr. Clyde M . Narramore
Dr. Narramore, graduate of Columbia University, New York City, is a psychologist and Consultant in Research and Guidance with one ot the largest school systems in the United States.
SMOK ING Q. What do you think about Chris tians smoking? A. To many people smoking is an ob noxious habit. Those who do not smoke usually dislike the smell of to bacco, and are uncomfortable when they are exposed to it. Too few smok ers realize how their clothes and hair carry tobacco odor. So, from the point of view of gaining friends, I’d say that you would be personally more desirable if you did not engage in this odious practice. A number of research findings, as well as many medical men, point to the fact that smoking is conducive to various diseases, especially cancer and diseases of the heart. If you want to be a healthy, efficient Christian, you will do well to abstain from the use of tobacco. Of course smoking may be a serious handicap to a Christian’s testimony. It’s strange, but many non-Christians seem to know how Christians should act, and when they see Christians smoking, they do not have much con fidence in their “ transformed life.” But I feel that something which is worse than a Christian’s smoking is his refusal to give it up. God seldom uses a man who refuses to let Him have His will in his life. Our Lord de mands surrender. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye sep arate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daugh ters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:17, 18). Any person who knows Christ as his personal Saviour but who refuses to let God clean up his life is not an obedient Christian, and is surely not in line for His richest blessing! “ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
TALL GIRL Q. M y daughter, age 14, is 5’ - 7” tall. Please pray that God w ill stop her growth in height. I am nearly out of my mind wor rying about her. I have been able to help my other children with their problems, but this one is driving me crazy. It broke my heart recently when she was standing with other children in a church program. She stood a half or fu ll head taller than the others. The women on my husband’s side of the fam ily are tcdl, and their lives are ruined and empty. So maybe you can understand why 1 am so worried. A. It seems as though you, rather than your daughter, are the one who needs prayer! Your daughter’s full potential height was determined long before she was born, and unless God intervenes miraculously, there is noth ing you can do about it. The only ex ceptions are people who have special physical abnormalities. It is not unusual for girls who are 13 or 14 years of age to be full grown in height. So it may be that your girl will not grow any taller. How ever, height is considered an advan tage to a person. Most women would .be thrilled if they could be taller and more graceful. It seems to me that the greatest dan ger to your daughter will come if she learns that you are concerned about her height. You can cause her to develop a serious complex regard ing it. After all, not one of us is phy sically perfect, and we all have to learn to accept ourselves as we are. I would suggest that you try to act in a mature, adult fashion and be thankful that your daughter is as tall as she is. Remember, happiness is not dependent upon one’s height. It is dependent upon our relationship to Christ. May God give you wisdom as you talk with your daughter.
NERVOUS HABITS Q. W e have several children, but the one whom we are worried about is our 10-year-old boy. When he was a baby he developed the habit of turning or swinging his head from one side to the other. Our fam ily doc tor said he would outgrow the habit but he hasn’t. W e are born-again Christians and we have tried every method suggested to help him over come this — prayer, scolding, brib ery, making him stay inside, spank ing and ignoring it for long periods of time. He has intervals of weeks when he doesn’t do it. W e would be most grateful if you could advise us about this. A. It is quite possible that your boy needs psychological as well as medi cal attention. It has been my experi ence that children usually do not grow out of serious nervous habits. They must be helped out of them. In the case of your boy I would not minimize prayer. God’s power is not limited, and it is possible for Him to deliver your boy of his trouble. However, this may not be God’s will. Psychologists and psychiatrists fre quently work with those who suffer from nervous habits. I would suggest that you take your boy to see one. No doubt he would want to study the child, his family and environment and also give certain tests. You can locate a competent person through your own school officials or through a local med ical doctor. LISTEN TO DR. NARRAMORE over KBBI, 107.5 me, Los An geles, Monday through Friday, 12:45- 1:00 P.M. with "Psy chology for Living." (Also heard on selected stations across the country and foreign missionary radio installations around the
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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