~ A Page From My Favorite Book! ~

Care And Affection

On the battlefield, in many terrible battles during our late horrible war, I always noticed that those boys who had been reared under the tenderest home culture always made the best soldiers They were always brave, always endured the severe hardships of camp, the march, or on the bloody field most silently, and were the most dutiful at every call. They resisted the frightful temptations that so often surrounded them, and seldom returned to their loved ones stained with the sins incident to war. They were always kind and polite to those whom they met in the enemy's country. Under their protection, women were always safe. How often I have heard one regiment compared with another, when the cause of the difference was not comprehended by those who drew the comparison! I knew the cause- it was, the home education.

The same is true every day in the busy life of the city. Gather one hundred young men in our city, and spend an evening with them, and you will know their home education. Watch them as they approach young ladies, and converse with them. You will know who has been trained under the influence of home education and politeness, and who has not.

Affection does not beget weakness, nor is it effeminate for a brother to be tenderly attached to his sisters. That boy will make the noblest, the bravest man. That young man who was accustomed to kiss his sweet, innocent, loving sister night and morning as they met, shows its influence upon him, and he will never forget it. When he shall take some one to his heart as his wife, she shall reap the golden fruit thereof. The young man who was in the habit of giving his arm to his sister as they walked to and from church, will never leave his wife to find her way as best she can. The young man who has been taught to see that his sister had a seat before he sought his, will never mortify a neglected wife in the presence of strangers. And that young man who always handed his sister to her chair at the table, will never have cause to blush as he sees some gentleman extend to his wife the courtesy she knows is due from him.

Mothers and daughters, wives and sisters, remember that you have the making of the future of this great country, and rise at once to your high and holy calling. Remember that you must make that future, whether you will or not. We are all what you make us. Ah! throw away your weakening follies of fashion, and soul famine, and rise to the level where God intended you should be, and make every one of your homes, from this day, schools of true politeness and tender affection. Take those little curly-headed boys, and teach them all you would have men to be. They will be just such men, and will go forth to bless the world, and crown you with a glory such as queens and empresses have never dreamed of. Exercise your power now, and you shall reap the fruit in your ripe age.

From the section ~ Care And Affection~ in Daughters of Destiny, by Noelle Wheeler

This is a very inspiring part of this very encouraging book. If you haven't read this book I highly recommend that you do. It is a wonderful book for ladies of all ages, in my opinion. :-)

I am excited about the opportunity and the blessing of ( Lord willing) someday teaching and guiding my own sons and daughters to be strong godly men and women. I am excited, but I am also afraid. What a huge responsibility! What an honor to be given this responsibility. Ladies, those of us who do not already have this responsibility need to be preparing diligently for this. We do not want to be learning "on the job"! It's too important for that. I am certainly no expert in child training or marriage, or life in general. :-) I have so much to learn sometimes it seems overwhelming. But ladies, lets take this very seriously and do everything in our power, with the Lords help, to prepare for this high and holy calling. I hope you are encouraged by this, and I would love to hear your thoughts!