Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-19
Talking TO Ones Children.

Why is it that Christian fathers and
mothers often feel it more difficult to speak
to their own children on direct personal re-
Igious matters than to any one else 1t
has been said that in some cases those who
form part of the same household know SO
well how the home-life contradcts the
Christian profession, that there is sufli-
cient reason why the parent should be
silent. But it is far from being always so.
Many child would bear full testimony to
the general consistency of his parents life
with their Christian profession, who has
yet possibly never been spoken to by them
in direct personal way on the subject Of
religion. We think that this may often
proceed in part from the nature possessed
by some persons, which leads them to shrink
from speaking of any matter which lies
near the heart a nature which can hardly
be understood by those who, when they
feel strongly, must express that feeling
on almost every possible occasion. But
yet more does it arise from the dread lest
such direct conversation should do harm
lest it should cause shrinking from free
intercourse-lest it should prove hindrance
where there is the greatest desire to help.
There may be enough principle and enough
love, as far as the farther or the mother is
concerned, to make either willing to break
through the reserve: but then comes the
question, What if [ do make the effort,
and by so doing increase the distance be-
tween me and my child, or even cause him
greater dislike to that personal religion of
which | would give everything to see him
possessed He knows what think he has
heard our family prayer; is it not better
that the matter should rest there ?" There
Ia nj dnuht an annnnt of fnroa in fhaoa
questions, and the awkward (shall we say
perhaps too solemn y way in which some
persons would very likely make the attempt
to speak directly to their children might
possibly have repeling effect, at least for
time. Still we can hardly believe that it
would be without good result. We re-
member the case of MOTHER one of the ex-
cellent Of the earth, who yet never, or very
rarely, spoke closely to her two children on
religious matters. Principle had many and
many time urged her to break through her
natural timidity, and, having most likely
had the present subject brought before her,
she one day took her two young girls into
her bedroom, knelt down and prayed with
them. This was repeated at least once, but
it was not continued; and whether the
mother felt the result was what she hoped
it would be, it is difficult to say. Certain it
is it was never forgotten. While thinking
OF the difficulties of this subject, it must not
be forgotten, on the other hand, that there
are young hearts which are Just longing for
an earnest word to be spoken to them by their
parents; longing, while perhaps all the
while they study to hide this longing with
an appearance of indifference. Great is the
joy of having an unexpected response from
such hearts, perhaps one of the greatest and
the purest which this world knows, we'll re-
paying any effort that may have been gone
through. Whatever may be the difficulty
attending these attempts at directly religious
conversation, we cannot but think they
ought to be made; but we want specially to
suggest what, it seems to us, would remove
much Of the difficulty, and that is, we would
say, begin with your children from their
earliest days. The most secret feelings OF
your heart and the most sacred desires OF
your soul may be uttered to the unconscious
infant you toss in the air or cradle in your
arms. Let them kneel with you in those arms
before they can bend their own knees, 80 that
may never remember when they first knelt
with you in prayer. 1t will then be nat
ural thing, and natural too will be the earn
est words which you speak to your child
and the ice of reserve will probably never
form on its heart. 1t may be that, after all
the tall youth and the growing maiden will
turn away from the truth that has often
been pressed on them; but it will be fal
easier in this case to address an earnest
word to them from time to time, and thu
great barrier will never exist which makes
a man feel as though he could preach to I
large congregation, or urge salvation on thu
veriest stranger, more easily than speak
few words alone to his own child.-Christia,
Monthly.