What I Was Thinking . . . was how excited I get about phone calls from my kids. Some people might say I'm a little pathetic, but I don't think so; I love to hear from each of them and I love to hear about what's going on in their lives -- I love every minute of it. And I'm so thankful they WANT to call and tell me things that are happening in their lives.
We used to have a pastor that said your goal is not to make your kids happy, but I don't agree with that at all. I want my kids to be happy, I want them to have the joy of the Lord in their lives. I hurt when they hurt and I am happy when they are happy. So, of course, I want my kids to be happy! What joy that brings to my heart when they are happy and excited about something that's going on in their lives! I want to believe that I had some part in that, I mean in helping them obtain the joy they get just for living their lives the way God would have them.
As promised, I want to share more of Mrs. Harper's 1892 speech which touches on this just a little; about raising your children so that they are strong men and virtuous women with good homes ... a life that will bring your children joy and HAPPINESS.
"The work of the mothers is grandly constructive. It is for us to build above the wreck and ruin of the past more stately temples of thought and action. Some races have been overthrown, dashed in pieces and destroyed; but today the world is needing, fainting, for something better than the results of arrogance, aggressiveness, and indomitable power. We need mothers who are capable of being character builders, patient, loving, strong, and true, whose homes will be an uplifting power. This is one of the greatest needs of the hour. No race can afford to neglect the enlightenment of its mothers. If you would have a clergy without virtue or morality, a manhood without honor, and a womanhood frivolous, mocking, and ignorant, neglect the education of your daughters. But if, on the other hand, you would have strong men, virtuous women, and good homes, then enlighten your women, so that they may be able to bless their homes by the purity of their lives, the tenderness of their hearts, and the strength of their intellects. From schools and colleges your children may come well-versed in ancient lore and modern learning, but it is for us to learn and teach, within the shadow of our own homes, the highest and best of all sciences, the science of a true life."
The science of a true life, enlightening your daughters to have tender hearts so that they will teach their boys one day to be strong men, their girls to be virtuous women and for both to have good character that they may one day have good homes ... you know ... BE HAPPY!
That's what I was thinking,
*~Tammi~*
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2 comments:
Tammi~ I have enjoyed reading from Mrs. Harper's speech. I'm so glad you're sharing it. I love the picture. I remember taking it or standing there while Sandy took it. =]
Awe.... memories. I loved it when we were all together =] Isn't that speech awesome, though! And to think this was in the 1800s and it is so applicable for today!!
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