You expect too much of your wife and children. You censure too much. If you would encourage a cheerful, happy temper yourself, and speak kindly and tenderly to them, you would bring sunlight into your dwelling instead of clouds, sorrow, and unhappiness. You think too much of your opinion; you have taken extreme positions and have not been willing that your wife’s judgment should have the weight it should in your family. You have not encouraged respect for your wife yourself nor educated your children to respect her judgment. You have not made her your equal, but have rather taken the reins of government and control into your own hands and held them with a firm grasp. You have not an affectionate, sympathetic disposition. These traits of character you need to cultivate if you want to be an overcomer and if you want the blessing of God in your family. {4T 255.3}

Du forventer for meget af din hustru og børn. Du kritiserer for meget. Hvis du selv får dannet dig et glad og lykkeligt gemyt og taler venligt og ømt til dem, vil du bringe solskin i dit hus i stedet for skyer, sorg og ulykke. Du tænker for meget på din mening; du har taget yderliggående standpunkter og har ikke indvilliget i at din hustrus vurdering har den vægt, den bør have i din familie. Du har ikke selv opelsket respekt for din hustru, du har heller ikke opdraget dine børn til at respektere hendes bedømmelse. Du har ikke sat hende lige med dig, men snarere taget tøjlerne og styret det hele i dine egne hænder og holdt dem med et fast greb. Du har ikke en hengiven, medfølende natur. Disse karaktertræk må du opelske, hvis du vil sejre og hvis du ønsker Guds velsignelse i din familie.