LORD, Help Us To Be Better Guardians For Our Children. AMEN

The silent influence in parental conduct

(J.A. James, "The Christian Professor" 1837)

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Parents have a great power of influence 

over the minds and hearts of their children. 

Their children are almost continually with them--

they are seen by them in nearly all they do, 

in their habitual conduct, and character 

at home. They are . . .
  heard in what they say;
  seen in what they do;
  studied in all their behavior;
by little ears, and eyes and minds, 

which are scarcely ever closed!

The child's heart is soft and pliable 

to a father's or a mother's influence. 

Their constant influence has been 

molding him from the dawn of reason. 

What, then, ought to be the parents' 

behavior at home? The whole cultivation, 

and direction, and management of a child's 

mind, from the very dawn of reason, 

should be carried on with special 

reference to the formation 

of Christian character. 

This should be the one thing, 

to which all other things should 

be subordination. 

The silent influence in parental 

conduct is far greater, either for good 

or for evil, than most parents are 

aware of. 

They teach by what they say, 

they influence by what they do; 

and also by what they do not say,

 and do not perform. 

The pious parents, who embody 

a meek, benevolent, ardent and 

consistent godliness in their character, 

exert a tremendous influence over 

the minds of their children!

But oh! the dreadful contrast 

in the case of those parents who 

are characterized by . . .
  ungodly dispositions,
  worldly associations,
  mirthful and extravagant living,
  trifling conversation, and lack 

of all seriousness and spirituality.

Oh! what can be expected 

from such parents--

but children who regard 

their religion with disgust?

Every man is best known at home. 

Parents are ever doing something 

to prejudice their children in favor 

of true religion--

or to prejudice them against it; 

doing something to draw 

them into the church--

or to drive them into the world; 

lending a helping hand to lead 

then to heaven--

or taking them by the hand 

and leading them to Hell.

Parents! Must you employ your 

influence in ruining the souls 

of your children--

and sending them to perdition? 

Oh! tremble at the interview 

you must have with them 

at the day of judgment, 

and the dialog you must 

hold with them forever 

in the bottomless pit!!

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