第40章 对于母职的误解
§1
第40章 对于母职的误解
§2
Chap. 40 - Misconception of the Mothers Work
§3
母亲受诱认为自己的工作无足轻重——母亲的工作在她自己看来往往似乎是一种无足轻重的服役。这种工作很少受人重视。他人也不知道她许多的挂虑和重担。她整天在家忙碌，从事许多日常的琐务，而且必须显示忍耐、自制、机敏、智慧和自我牺牲的慈爱；然而她还不能夸述自己所有的工作为伟业。她只是使家中的事务有条不紊地进行而已。她常常感觉疲倦与困惑，但仍须向孩子们讲说亲切的话语，使他们忙碌而愉快，导引他们的小脚走在正道之上。她认为自己是毫无所成的，其实不然。天上的使者看顾着为忧虑所困的母亲，注意她日复一日背负的重担。她的名字或许没没无闻，但已记在羔羊的生命册上了。[1]
§4
Mother Tempted to Feel That Her Work Is Unimportant.--The mothers work often seems to her an unimportant service. It is a work that is rarely appreciated. Others know little of her many cares and burdens. Her days are occupied with a round of little duties, all calling for patient effort, for self-control, for tact, wisdom, and self-sacrificing love; yet she cannot boast of what she has done as any great achievement. She has only kept things in the home running smoothly. Often weary and perplexed, she has tried to speak kindly to the children, to keep them busy and happy, and to guide their little feet in the right path. She feels that she has accomplished nothing. But it is not so. Heavenly angels watch the careworn mother, noting the burdens she carries day by day. Her name may not have been heard in the world, but it is written in the Lambs book of life. {AH 244.1}[1]
§5
那忠实的妻子与母亲必以尊严与愉快之心去履行自己的义务，决不视亲手操持必要的家务以维持一个井然有序的家庭为一件降低她身份的事。[2]
§6
The true wife and mother . . . will perform her duties with dignity and cheerfulness, not considering it degrading to do with her own hands whatever it is necessary to do in a well-ordered household. {AH 244.2}[2]
§7
认为低于传道工作——这是何等重要的工作啊！然而我们还听见有些母亲们叹息着想要从事传道工作呢！假若她们能到国外去，她们才认为自己的工作有价值。但是肩负家中日常的义务，并继续作下去，在她们看来却如一种辛劳而毫无酬报的苦役。[3]
§8
Regarded as Inferior to Mission Service.--What an important work! And yet we hear mothers sighing for missionary work! If they could only go to some foreign country, they would feel that they were doing something worth while. But to take up the daily duties of the home life and carry them forward seems to them like an exhausting and thankless task. {AH 244.3}[3]
§9
凡是叹息着想要到布道区域去工作的母亲们，在自己的家庭范围内都有着一片布道的园地。试问：她自己儿女的灵命价值还比不上异教徒的么？她应当以怎样的关切和亲情去注意他们正在成长中的心志，并使他们的一切思念都与上帝有关啊！还有什么人能像一位存心慈爱而敬畏上帝的母亲那样妥善地作成这事呢？[4]
§10
Mothers who sigh for a missionary field have one at hand in their own home circle. . . . Are not the souls of her own children of as much value as the souls of the heathen? With what care and tenderness should she watch their growing minds and connect God with all their thoughts! Who can do this as well as a loving, God-fearing mother? {AH 245.1}[4]
§11
有些人以为若不直接参与积极的宗教活动，就不是遵行上帝的旨意；但这种看法是错误的。各人都有为主当作之工；使家庭中充满了快乐，成为一个名符其实的地方，乃是一种不可思议的工作。最卑微的天赋，若领受之人的心全然献与上帝，必能使家庭生活达成上帝对它所有的期望。由于全心全意为上帝服务，必有清明的光辉反射出去。人们若真诚地注意所听见的道，教养自己的儿女怀着敬畏而不触犯上帝的心生活，那就是侍奉上帝，而且与牧师在讲台上的工作是不相上下的。[5]
§12
There are some who think that unless they are directly connected with active religious work, they are not doing the will of God; but this is a mistake. Everyone has a work to do for the Master; it is a wonderful work to make home pleasant and all that it ought to be. The humblest talents, if the heart of the recipient is given to God, will make the home life all that God would have it. A bright light will shine forth as the result of wholehearted service to God. Men and women can just as surely serve God by giving earnest heed to the things which they have heard, by educating their children to live and fear to offend God, as can the minister in the pulpit. {AH 245.2}[5]
§13
凡乐意地从事自己之手所找到的工作，存着愉快的心情协助丈夫分负重担，为上帝而教养儿女的妇女，就最高尚的意义而言，也都是传道人。[6]
§14
These women who are doing with ready willingness what their hands find to do, with cheerfulness of spirit aiding their husbands to bear their burdens and training their children for God, are missionaries in the highest sense. {AH 245.3}[6]
§15
宗教活动不应取代照顾家庭的义务——你若将身为妻子与母亲的义务置之不顾，而向主伸手求他赐予别的工作，你当知道他是不会自相矛盾；他必指示你在自己家中当尽的义务。你若以为有比这更伟大更圣洁的工作要委托你，便是受了欺骗。由于在自己家中忠心地为那些与你最亲密的人服务，你也许就可以获得资格配在更广大的园地中为基督工作。但你务须知道：凡疏忽自己家庭内的义务之人，就是还没有预备妥当去为别人的灵性服务。[7]
§16
Religious Activities Should Not Supersede Care of Family.--If you ignore your duty as a wife and mother and hold out your hands for the Lord to put another class of work in them, be sure that He will not contradict Himself; He points you to the duty you have to do at home. If you have the idea that some work greater and holier than this has been entrusted to you, you are under a deception. By faithfulness in your own home, working for the souls of those who are nearest to you, you may be gaining a fitness to work for Christ in a wider field. But be sure that those who are neglectful of their duty in the home circle are not prepared to work for other souls. {AH 245.4}[7]
§17
主并没有呼召你疏忽自己的家庭、丈夫和儿女。他从来没有这样做。你一刻也不要有这样的思想，以为上帝已托付你什么工作，使你必须与你珍贵无比的小群相离。不要任凭他们被不良的同伴所败坏，而对自己的母亲怀着刚硬的心。这乃是以一种完全错误的方式来发光了；你也是在使自己的儿女更难达成上帝对他们所有的期望，更难在最后获得天国了。上帝是照顾着他们的，而你若自称是他的儿女，就也应当照顾他们。[8]
§18
The Lord has not called you to neglect your home and your husband and children. He never works in this way; and He never will. . . . Never for a moment suppose that God has given you a work that will necessitate a separation from your precious little flock. Do not leave them to become demoralized by improper associations and to harden their hearts against their mother. This is letting your light shine in a wrong way, altogether; you are making it more difficult for your children to become what God would have them and win heaven at last. God cares for them, and so must you if you claim to be His child. {AH 246.1}[8]
§19
在他们最幼小的时期，乃是为他们工作、警醒、祈祷，并助长他们每一良好倾向的时期。这样的工作必须继续不停地进行。或许有人邀请你参赴母亲会，缝纫团，借此作些布道工作；但是若没有一位忠心而有见识的导师来照顾你的孩子，那么你的本分就要如此答复他们：主已分派给你另一种不能忽略的工作。你绝对无法在任何工作上忙碌过度而不至使你丧失资格，去从事那教养自己的小宝贝，令他们达成上帝对他们所有期望的工作。你既是与基督同工的，就有本分须陶冶并训练他们，带领他们到他的面前来。[9]
§20
During the first years of their lives is the time in which to work and watch and pray and encourage every good inclination. This work must go on without interruption. You may be urged to attend mothers meetings and sewing circles, that you may do missionary work; but unless there is a faithful, understanding instructor to be left with your children, it is your duty to answer that the Lord has committed to you another work which you can in no wise neglect. You cannot overwork in any line without becoming disqualified for the work of training your little ones and making them what God would have them be. As Christs co-worker you must bring them to Him disciplined and trained. {AH 246.2}[9]
§21
没有受过良好训练的孩子们之畸形品格，多半应归咎于作母亲的人。母亲不应肩负任何迫使她忽略自己儿女的教会工作。母亲所能从事之最有价值的工作，就是要慎防自己在教养儿女的事上有任何不完全之处。[10]
§22
Much of the malformation of an ill-trained childs character lies at the mothers door. The mother should not accept burdens in the church work which compel her to neglect her children. The best work in which a mother can engage is to see that no stitches are dropped in the training of her children. . . . {AH 246.3}[10]
§23
作母亲的再没有比献上她的时间，去照顾那群仰赖她的教导和训练的孩子们，更能帮助教会的了。[11]
§24
In no other way can a mother help the church more than by devoting her time to those who are dependent upon her for instruction and training. {AH 247.1}[11]
§25
妄求到更广大的布道地区去工作——有些作母亲的甚愿参与布道工作，但同时他们却忽略了眼前最简单的义务。儿女们被忽略了，而且家庭也不成为充满快乐与幸福的所在了，常常听见责骂和怨詈之声，结果年轻人长大后就认为家庭是最不值得留恋的地方。因而他们不耐烦地等候离开家庭的日子来到，毫不犹豫地投向世界去，再也不受家庭的感化力和炉边亲切的劝告之约束了。[12]
§26
Aspirations for a Broader Mission Field Are Vain.-- Some mothers long to engage in missionary labor, while they neglect the simplest duties lying directly in their path. The children are neglected, the home is not made cheerful and happy for the family, scolding and complaining are of frequent occurrence, and the young people grow up feeling that home is the most uninviting of all places. As a consequence, they impatiently look forward to the time when they shall leave it, and it is with little reluctance that they launch out into the great world, unrestrained by home influence and the tender counsel of the hearthstone. {AH 247.2}[12]
§27
作父母的原应力求使儿女的心与自己系结在一起并正确地导引他们，却浪费了上帝所赐予他们的时机，对于自己一生中最重要的义务竟视若无睹，反而妄求到更广大的布道地区去工作。[13]
§28
The parents, whose aim should have been to bind these young hearts to themselves and guide them aright, squander their God-given opportunities, are blind to the most important duties of their lives, and vainly aspire to work in the broad missionary field. {AH 247.3}[13]