Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Volume IMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Volume I
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Bible. Deuteronomy -- Commentaries
There can be no greater nuisance in a house than a naughty, willful
child; and, as a general rule, wherever you find such, it is to be
traced to bad training. We are aware, of course, that children differ
in temper and disposition--that some children have peculiarly strong
wills and sturdy tempers, and are therefore specially hard to manage.
All this we quite understand; but it leaves wholly untouched the
question of the parent's responsibility to insist upon implicit
obedience. He can always count on God for the needed grace and power
to carry out this point. Even in the case of a widowed mother, we
believe, most assuredly, she can look to God to enable her to command
her children and her household. In no case, therefore, should parental
authority be surrendered for a moment.
It sometimes happens that, through injudicious fondness, the parent is
tempted to pamper the will of the child; but it is sowing to the
flesh, and must yield corruption. It is not true love at all to
indulge a child's will, neither can it possibly minister to his true
happiness or legitimate enjoyment. An over-indulged, self-willed child
is miserable himself and a grievous infliction on all who have to do
with him. Children should be taught to think of others, and to seek to
promote their comfort and happiness in every way. How very unseemly it
is, for example, for a child to enter the house and ascend the stairs
whistling, singing, and shouting, in total disregard of other members
of the household who may be seriously disturbed and annoyed by such
conduct! No properly trained child would think of acting in such a
way; and where such unsubdued, unruly, inconsiderate conduct is
allowed, there is a serious defect in the domestic government.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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