The cultivation of every pure, right, holy habit, temper and method of speech, should begin long before a young mother actually clasps her child to her breast, if he is to come into the world such as she would have him to be.
With what widely differing feelings do parents look forward to the gift of a child! In some cases it is in the hope of keeping property in the direct line, so that others may not inherit it.
Dear ones, it may be that none amongst you have need to cherish such thoughts, or to expect any great share of this world’s wealth, for those who may some day call you by the sweet name of mother. On all who bear it will devolve the solemn responsibility of training your children for something greater, higher and better than the richest earthly inheritance.
It must never be forgotten that it is the children of human mothers who are the heirs of immortality. It is the glorious privilege and duty of the mother to teach her little ones the old, old story of God’s love in Christ Jesus, and to put before them the precious truth that in Him and through Him they become children of God. “And if children, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.”
Children are sometimes used as outlets for a mother’s vanity and love of display. She delights to clothe them in the richest and costliest of silks and laces, less for their comfort than to show that she is wealthy enough to do so. These things are of little real account.
The soft woollen garments knitted and fashioned by the loving hands of a poor mother, and the mere scraps of material adorned with pretty stitching by her busy fingers, and kept in snowy purity, will be just as comfortable and becoming as the more costly clothing.
In choosing a nurse to be associated with you in the care of your children, think of what you would fain be for their sakes, and try to find one who will work with you in a like spirit. Never give up your own share in the work or the supervision of the nurse’s, except from dire necessity. I would be the last to suggest that you should show a suspicious, prying spirit; but let it be understood that the nurse is your co-worker, and that, in trusting her with your children, you place your greatest treasures in her partial keeping. My own practice has always been to trust those who served in my home, unless something occurred to justify a change of opinion.
In dealing with the little ones be absolutely true. Let there be no shams or make-believes on your part, and allow none in others. Children are wonderfully quick to detect shams, or even an approach to untruth, and how keenly they study their elders! I hope it is not derogatory to the child for me to say that they and dogs are curiously alike in judging character. The child will meet the advances of one stranger with open arms, whilst no bribes or blandishments will induce her to look at another. The dog will generally make a like choice. Before reason can have much to say in the matter, the child exercises its God-given instinct in making or refusing to make friends with a new-comer.
I was in a room with a number of people one day, when a little girl of four was brought to see the visitors. All but one tried to coax her into friendliness but in vain. The exception was a sea-captain, rugged, sunburnt, and with a face seamed by small-pox. He made no attempt to entice the child, beyond smiling in response to her frequent gaze. At length she went quietly to him, laid her hand on his knee and bade him lift her up. The rugged face looked beautiful in its kindliness as he raised the child in his arms, and a moment after felt a soft kiss on his cheek, and a curly head nestling on his breast. A more lovable nature than that which dwelt beneath that man’s unpromising exterior, it would have been hard to find; and so evidently the dog of the household decided, for he followed the child and tried to push his nose beneath the captain’s one free hand.
I often think that our four-footed friends set us examples worthy of imitation in dealing with our little ones. Most of us would rather bear pain than see a child suffer, even if not impelled to pity and tenderness by motherly love. But we are not always sympathetic in matters which are very real trials to the children. I have heard people say, “How can one be expected to do anything but laugh at the ridiculous things children cry and grieve about?” If the trouble is a real one to the child, we may sympathise with the sorrow, though we may smile at the cause of it. Only do not let us spoil everything by allowing the child to see us smile whilst professing to pity and condole.