The parents should not feel inclined to leave religious instruction to others, even as we don't leave our instruction merely to others, clergy or otherwise. The parents receive a wonderful benefit themselves by instructing their family. By the time the children are of teenage years they are best served to know what God's will is concerning His creatures and how to find heavenly wisdom, comfort and guidance from the Word of God for themselves. And the child's will is specially susceptible to impressions and suggestions while the child's mind is opening to the affairs of life and the foundations of its character are being laid. Applying the law of good and truthful suggestion to his child is the secret of a parent's success.
Some parents apply the principle continually without being aware of it.
For instance, the mother who, every morning, greets her child with a cheery face and voice, gives her child a happy suggestion, good both mentally and physically. Discontent, one of the serious evils of our day, would find little to stimulate its growth in a family in which all were intent on giving happifying suggestions to themselves and each other. The same method should be adopted in the guidance of the child's diet in sickness or health. Never should the child have aches or pains suggested, for the mind will almost certainly fasten upon these and tend to aggravate any weakness or pain. The child whose confidence has been nurtured and established over time will naturally bring the many questions of life to the parent.