Submission, love, and gratitude to God keep sunshine in the heart, though the day may be ever so cloudy. Self-denial and the cross of Christ are before you. Will you lift the cross? Your children have been blessed by a mother’s prayers. They have loved religion. They have tried to resist temptation and to live lives of prayer. Sometimes they have tried very hard; but your example before them, your love and devotion to the world, and your close application to business, have withdrawn their minds from spiritual things and turned them to earth again. Satan has been upon their track to lead them to love the world and the things of the world. They have gradually lost their confidence in God, have neglected secret prayer and religious duties, and have withdrawn their interest from holy things. {4T 47.3}

Underdanighed, kærlighed og taknemmelighed til Gud holder solskin i hjertet, selvom dagen kan være nok så overskyet. Selvfornægtelse og Kristi kors er foran dig. Vil du løfte korset? Dine børn er blevet velsignet af en moders bønner. De har elsket religion. De har prøvet at modstå fristelser og leve bønnens liv. Nogen gange har de prøvet meget hårdt; men dit eksempel for dem, din kærlighed og helligelse til verden og din tætte forbindelse til forretninger, har draget deres tanker fra åndelige ting og vendt dem til jorden (48) igen. Satan har været på sporet af dem og fået dem til at elske verden og verdens ting. De har gradvist mistet deres tillid til Gud og har forsømt skjult bøn og religiøse pligter og har fået vendt deres interesser bort fra hellige ting.