These dear children are living among worldly people, and they are imbibing a love for the vanities of life. Your son L is a kindhearted, fine-spirited boy; but he needs the watchful care of a mother whose daily experience in the Christian life will fit her to counsel and instruct him. He is at just that age when a tender, judicious mother can mold him by her influence; but I fear, Sister K, that you seek rather to mold your children after the fashion of this world, and neglect to teach them that the important work of life is to form characters that will ensure immortality. {4T 113.2}

Disse kære børn lever blandt verdslige folk og de indsuger en kærlighed for livets forfængeligheder. Jeres søn L er en kærlig og livlig dreng; men han behøver en moders årvågne omsorg, hvis daglige erfaring i kristenlivet vil sætte hende i stand til at rådgive og belære ham. Han er netop i den alder hvor en nænsom, klog moder kan forme ham; men jeg frygter, søster K, at du hellere vil forme dine børn efter verdens moder og ikke belære at livets vigtige gerning er at danne karakter, som ville sikre evigt liv.