The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

notwithstanding what their mistakes might be yet it was pleasing to see that they were resting all upon Jesus and where in earnest in trying to lead others to him.” The way that Martha keeps the Sabbath, then, provides an important window into her heart: for her, personal holiness—as represented by attending her own church where she can trust she is receiving correct doctrine—as well as keeping a certain tradition (attending her own church) is less important to her than caring for the needy. Martha’s heart to seek the Lord and to cultivate this attitude within her children is perhaps best distilled in the following speech she gave and then recorded in her journal on 9 July 1899: “But we are to talk today more especially on the mother’s work. It is generally understood that a mother’s work must begin at home. Madam Willard said it was only as a mother did her full duty in her own home that she is capable of doing anything of great value elsewhere. A mother must first reform herself. She must first be right with God before she will be able to set her own home or family right. But there are many sides to a mother’s work. I will speak a moment on the spiritual side and will begin by asking what is the most important thing to teach a child? The greatest thing a child can be tonight in the world is to fear the Lord. To teach this well implies most everything else. It means to see God in everything. It means to teach the (seein?) of sin. It means to teach a child who God is, what heaven is. It means to teach what hell is, how dreadful it is to be lost, to go down to the dark region of darkness. It means to teach a child from its very infancy who Jesus is, who loves the little children and said forbid them not to come unto me. This implies they are susceptible of love. Then his promise they that seek me early shall find me. Let it be remembered to be successful we must 92