That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. Psalm 144:12. FLB 264.1
The tenderest earthly tie is that between the mother and her child.
In the children committed to her care, every mother has a sacred charge from God. “Take this son, this daughter,” He says; “train it for Me; give it a character polished after the similitude of a palace, that it may shine in the courts of the Lord forever.”
This work of molding, refining, and polishing is the mother’s. The character of the child is to be developed. The mother must engrave upon the tablet of the heart lessons as enduring as eternity.
Child training is the grandest work ever committed to mortals. The child belongs to the Lord, and from the time it is an infant in its mother’s arms, it is to be trained for Him.
The home should be to the children the most attractive place in the world, and the mother’s presence should be its greatest attraction…. By gentle discipline, in loving words and acts, mothers may bind their children to their hearts.
There is a God above, and the light and glory from His throne rests upon the faithful mother as she tries to educate her children to resist the influence of evil. No other work can equal hers in importance. She has not, like the artist, to paint a form of beauty upon canvas, nor, like the sculptor, to chisel it from marble. She has not, like the author, to embody a noble thought in words of power, nor, like the musician, to express a beautiful sentiment in melody. It is hers, with the help of God, to develop in a human soul the likeness of the divine.
The king upon his throne has no higher work than has the mother. The mother is queen of her household. She has in her power the molding of her children’s characters, that they may be fitted for the higher, immortal life. An angel could not ask for a higher mission.
The Faith I Live By p. 264
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Christi who just found out that she has cancer. There are several treatments that she can choose. Please pray that she chooses the right one. Ron
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Dear Friends,
What a responsibility every teacher has! He has the privilege of opening the door of the student’s mind to the joy of learning; or he can cause the student to close it, making school a drudgery.
Many of my teachers are long forgotten, but there have been a few who stand out in my memory as special. Such a teacher was Mrs. Dodson. She taught third grade to about thirty of us. Because she kept strict discipline, our classroom was very quiet, making a better learning environment than is seen today. Despite her strictness, we all loved her. She was so kind and took time to help each of us when we needed it.
All too soon that school year ended. It was the week of my birthday and that year I was going to have my first party. I was so excited! I could invite ten children to my party. As I thought of who to invite, I picked Janie Burchett, Gary Drake, Wade Timothy Huffstutter, Carol Perry, Judy Frost, and a few others that didn’t tease me for being overweight. As I thought of who to invite, I realized that the person I wanted to come to my party most of all was Mrs. Dodson. She was so special. I was going to miss her so much when I had to go into the fourth grade and have a new teacher. After class, I approached her desk. She looked up and smiled at me. I told her about the party and how much I wanted her to be there. She didn’t give me an answer right then, but I was sure that she would come.
When my mother found out that I had invited my teacher, she was terribly embarrassed. She went right over to the school and told Mrs. Dodson that she should not feel obligated to come. My dear teacher told her that a team of wild horses couldn’t keep her away. In all of her years of teaching, I was the only student who cared enough about her to ask her to their party. She had planned on leaving early that morning to visit her daughter who lived far away, but she had decided to leave after the party instead just for me.
Finally June 13th arrived! I was so happy and excited! All of the children that were invited came. We had a great time playing games. Mrs. Dodson joined right in just as if she were one of the children. Before serving the ice cream and cake, my mother had everyone go outside for a picture. Standing in the back row and towering over us all was my dear teacher. She had her usual sweet smile on her face and looked very comfortable with all of us. That picture was destroyed when we lost everything in a house fire, but I will never forget her kindness.
Even more than Mrs. Dodson’s love for her students, is our Great Creator’s love for us. Oh, how He longs to be a part of every aspect of our life! He wants to share in our good times as well as in our times of trial. He thrills at the sound of our first prayer, He is filled with joy as He hears our prayer of repentance, He is swift to answer our prayer for help. Indeed, He loved us so much, that He gave His Dearest Treasure to ransom us from the hand of the enemy. (John 3:16) He assures us, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3 “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Isa 49:15,16
What tender care our Dear Saviour has for us! How loving and kind He is! Jesus gave us evidence of that loving care when He came to this earth to reveal His Father’s love. He had compassion upon the multitudes of people who followed Him and filled all of their needs. He told them, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:6,7, 22-32 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Mat 7:7-11
Let us “pray without ceasing,” allowing our Loving Father to be a part of every aspect of our life. (I Thes 5:17) Let us bring to Him all of our sorrows, all of our joys. Let us go to Him for the forgiveness and cleansing that we so much need, for we have the promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9
Rose

The Grandest Work of All