CHRISTIAN HOME & MARRIAGE WEEK
MIGOSI SDA CHURCH
DAY #7
Joseph Abuto
FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior:
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In many ways children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
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· They must be carefully shaped and formed.
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· They must be guided with skill and strength.
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· They must be given care or they will not fly straight.
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· They must be aimed and given direction; they will not find direction on their
own.
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· They are, in some respects, only launched once.
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. Once launched, they may not return. Be careful
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· They are an extension of the warrior’s strength and accomplishment.- they pass
on thy traits.
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· They have potential for much better or worse.
.THEY ARE SO FOR PROTECTION
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Those children that are born when their parents are young will be of age to
help and maintain their parents when these need such help. They defend
their home from the attack of poverty and want. Long ere these have reached
their home, these arrows have made them turn back.
FOR HELP IN THE BATTLE OF LIFE.

The spur and stimulus which children impart to their parents, the pleasure
they give, the love they awaken, the aspirations after good they arouse, - all
these things are of vast help in life's battle, even "as arrows are," etc.
NEED TO BE CAREFULLY PREPARED
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Arrows do not grow of themselves: they have to be wrought out with much
thought and care. So our children.
AND TO BE WELL AIMED
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What is our aim for our children? The arrows will go where they are sent. How
many parents there are who have no worthy aim for their children! They will
be glad for them to "get on," to become rich, and to take good positions in
society. If they have aim, it is no higher one than that. And those who profess
the higher aim, that their children should be the Lord's, how badly, clumsily,
carelessly, they seek that aim!
SENT FORTH WITH ALL POWER
 See
the "mighty man," how "he bends his bow and makes
ready his arrow upon the string," and then draws it back
to its full length, that it may speed with the more force
on the way he would have it go; that is a picture of the
strenuous, careful endeavor we should make to urge our
arrows, our children, in the right way. But what all too
little strenuousness there is in this matter!
THEY ARE SURE TO WOUND, IF NOT KILL,
SOMEWHERE
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The foes of the home - want, godlessness, evil reputation and character,
strife and ill will, hopelessness and despair, the malice of men, and much
else, the children should slay, and not suffer them to come near us; and
good children do this. But if we have not so trained them to thus serve the
home, then they will turn and wound and pierce their parents to the heart.
Bad children do this. Yes, always, they are "as arrows." - S.C.
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Genesis 9.20-24
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Proverbs 30.17