Ellen
G. White on Sabbath nature walks
Emphasis in blue is ours.
In order to keep the Sabbath holy, it is not
necessary that we enclose ourselves in walls, shut away from the beautiful
scenes of nature and from the free, invigorating air of heaven....The
mind cannot be refreshed, enlivened, and elevated by being confined
nearly all the Sabbath hours within walls, listening to long sermons
and tedious, formal prayers. The Sabbath of the Lord is put to a wrong
use if thus celebrated. The object for which it was instituted is
not attained...
During a portion of the day, all should have
an opportunity to be out of doors. How can children receive
a more correct knowledge of God, and their minds be better impressed,
than in spending a portion of their time out of doors, not in play,
but in company with their parents? Let their young minds be associated
with God in the beautiful scenery of nature, let their attention be
called to the tokens of His love to man in His created works, and
they will be attracted and interested....You can direct their minds
to the lovely birds making the air musical with their happy songs,
to the spires of grass, and the gloriously tinted flowers in their
perfection perfuming the air. All these proclaim the love and skill
of the heavenly Artist, and show forth the glory of God.
Not Indifferent to Children's Activities.--I have found that
on the Sabbath day many are indifferent and do not know where their
children are or what they are doing.
Parents, above everything take care of your
children upon the Sabbath. Do not suffer them to violate God's
holy day by playing in the house or out-of-doors. You may just as
well break the Sabbath yourselves as to let your children do it, and
when you suffer your children to wander about and suffer them to play
upon the Sabbath, God looks upon you as Sabbathbreakers.
Out-of-doors With the Children.--The
parents may take their children outdoors to view God in nature.
They can be pointed to the blooming flowers and the opening buds,
the lofty trees and beautiful spires of grass, and taught that God
made all these in six days and rested on the seventh day and hallowed
it. Thus the parents may bind up their lessons of instruction to their
children, so that when these children look upon the things of nature,
they will call to mind the great Creator of them all. Their thoughts
will be carried up to nature's God-- back to the creation of our world,
when the foundation of the Sabbath was laid, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy. Such are the lessons to be impressed on the minds
of our children.
We are not to teach our
children that they must not be happy on the Sabbath, that it is wrong
to walk out-of-doors. Oh, no. Christ led His disciples
out by the lakeside on the Sabbath day and taught them. His sermons
on the Sabbath were not always preached within enclosed walls.
Other Lessons From Nature--Object Lessons.-- Teach the children
to see Christ in nature. Take them out into the open air, under the
noble trees, into the garden; and in all the wonderful works of creation
teach them to see an expression of His love. Teach them that He made
the laws which govern all living things, that He has made laws for
us, and that these laws are for our happiness and joy. Do not weary
them with long prayers and tedious exhortations, but through nature's
object lessons teach them obedience to the law of God.
On the Sabbath, parents should give all the time they can to their
children, that they may make it a delight....In
pleasant weather parents can take their children out for a walk in
the fields and forest, and talk to them of the lofty trees,
the shrubs, and the flowers, and teach them that God is the Maker
of all these things. Then teach them the reason for the Sabbath,--that
it is to commemorate God's creative works. After working six days,
He rested the seventh, and blessed and hallowed the day of His rest.
Thus the most profitable instruction can be given.
|
