第41章 不良的母亲之态度
§1
第41章 不良的母亲之态度
§2
Chap. 41 - Imperfect Patterns of Motherhood
§3
幻想的殉难者——不少的家庭，由于主妇常作无益的诉苦而毫不安乐，全因她厌烦家庭生活中单纯而平凡的琐务。她视自己分内的操劳与责任为苛遇，以至本来若存着愉快的心情加以履行，不但会充满快乐并饶有兴味，而且大有裨益的事情，反而成为难堪的劳役。她以憎厌的心情视自己的人生如奴隶一般，而且想象自己是一个殉难者。[1]
§4
A Fancied Martyr.--Many a home is made very unhappy by the useless repining of its mistress, who turns with distaste from the simple, homely tasks of her unpretending domestic life. She looks upon the cares and duties of her lot as hardships; and that which, through cheerfulness, might be made not only pleasant and interesting, but profitable, becomes the merest drudgery. She looks upon the slavery of her life with repugnance and imagines herself a martyr. {AH 248.1}[1]
§5
不错，家庭的生活之轮有时也不一定能顺利前进，有许多事情是必须付上忍耐并勉力而行的。母亲们虽然不必为自己所无法控制的环境负责，但同时也不能否认环境对于母亲们的终身工作具有极大的关系。假若任让环境作主，惑乱她们所持守的原则，或因厌倦而不忠于神圣的委托，忽略自己明知的义务的话，那时她们就有罪了。[2]
§6
It is true that the wheels of domestic machinery will not always run smoothly; there is much to try the patience and tax the strength. But while mothers are not responsible for circumstances over which they have no control, it is useless to deny that circumstances make a great difference with mothers in their lifework. But their condemnation is when circumstances are allowed to rule and to subvert their principle, when they grow tired and unfaithful to their high trust and neglect their known duty. {AH 248.2}[2]
§7
凡毅然地克胜一切压倒那些无忍耐与勇气之人的困难的妻子与母亲，不但可因履行自己的义务而得以刚强，并且她战胜试探与障碍的经验，也足以使她能借着教训和榜样，给予别人以有效的帮助。许多人在顺境之中或有良好的表现，但遭遇反对和试炼之时，品格上似乎就有了改变；他们的退步与所经历的困难刚好成为正比例。上帝从来无意要我们作环境的玩物。[3]
§8
The wife and mother who nobly overcomes difficulties under which others sink for want of patience and fortitude to persevere not only becomes strong herself in doing her duty, but her experience in overcoming temptations and obstacles qualifies her to be an efficient help to others, both by words and example. Many who do well under favorable circumstances seem to undergo a transformation of character under adversity and trial; they deteriorate in proportion to their troubles. God never designed that we should be the sport of circumstances. {AH 248.3}[3]
§9
抱着不知足的有罪心意——很多的丈夫与孩子们，因为发现家中毫无乐趣，也因为常常听到责骂与诉苦的声音，所以就远离家庭，到酒肆或其他不正当的场所去找寻安慰与娱乐。作妻子与母亲的因忙于家务，即或她在丈夫与孩子们面前不诉述自己特殊的烦恼和困难，也往往不注意那使他们感觉家庭愉快的琐细的礼貌。她在专心预备食物或缝纫衣服时，视丈夫与儿子们的出入如陌生人一般。[4]
§10
Nourishing a Sinful Discontent.--Very many husbands and children who find nothing attractive at home, who are continually greeted by scolding and murmuring, seek comfort and amusement away from home, in the dramshop or in other forbidden scenes of pleasure. The wife and mother, occupied with her household cares, frequently becomes thoughtless of the little courtesies that make home pleasant to the husband and children, even if she avoids dwelling upon her peculiar vexations and difficulties in their presence. While she is absorbed in preparing something to eat or to wear, the husband and sons go in and come out as strangers. {AH 249.1}[4]
§11
主妇也可能一面认真地负担她外表的义务，一面却常常埋怨她奴役般的命运，并夸张她的责任和约束，以自己的命运与她所声称的妇女最高贵的人生相比。她一面无益地冀求一种迥然有别的人生，而另一面却抱着不知足的有罪心意，因此使家庭对于她的丈夫和儿女成为一个极不安乐的所在。[5]
§12
While the mistress of the household may perform her outward duties with exactitude, she may be continually crying out against the slavery to which she is doomed, and exaggerate her responsibilities and restrictions by comparing her lot with what she styles the higher life of woman. . . . While she is fruitlessly yearning for a different life, she is nourishing a sinful discontent and making her home very unpleasant for her husband and children. {AH 249.2}[5]
§13
沉溺于属世的愚妄中——撒但已为父母们预备了许多令人爱慕的诱惑物，正如他为孩子们所预备的一样。他知道若能在母亲们身上发挥他欺骗的权势，就可占得绝大的便宜。属世之道充满了欺诈、诡谋、和悲剧，然而其外表却是异常动人心弦；故此若不细心教导并训练儿童和青年，他们势必走入迷途。他们既没有坚定的原则，就不易抗拒试探了。[6]
§14
Occupied With the Worlds Follies.--Satan has prepared pleasing attractions for parents as well as for children. He knows that if he can exert his deceptive power upon mothers, he has gained much. The ways of the world are full of deceitfulness and fraud and misery, but they are made to appear inviting; and if the children and youth are not carefully trained and disciplined, they will surely go astray. Having no fixed principles, it will be hard for them to resist temptation. {AH 249.3}[6]
§15
背负不必要的重担——许多作母亲的都浪费自己的时间，去作不必要的事情。她们专注于属世俗肉体的事物，毫不顾念有关永恒福利的一切。唉，多少人忽略了自己的儿女，而这班孩子长大后都成了卑劣、蛮横、粗鲁的人啊！[7]
§16
Assuming Unnecessary Burdens.--Many mothers spend their time in doing needless nothings. They give their whole attention to the things of time and sense and do not pause to think of the things of eternal interest. How many neglect their children, and the little ones grow up coarse, rough, and uncultivated! {AH 249.4}[7]
§17
当父母们——特别是作母亲的，真正认清上帝所交托他们从事的伟大而责任綦重的工作时，他们就决不会那么忙于他们毫不相干，而只关系他们邻舍的事情了。他们也决不会挨家挨户地去说长道短，播弄是非，只注意邻舍的过失、错误、和矛盾之处了。他们必体认到照顾自己儿女的责任如此重大，绝对没有时间来论断他们的邻舍了。[8]
§18
When parents, especially mothers, have a true sense of the important, responsible work which God has left for them to do, they will not be so much engaged in the business which concerns their neighbors, with which they have nothing to do. They will not go from house to house to engage in fashionable gossip, dwelling upon the faults, wrongs, and inconsistencies of their neighbors. They will feel so great a burden of care for their own children that they can find no time to take up a reproach against their neighbor. {AH 250.1}[8]
§19
妇女若肯仰望上帝以获得力量与安慰，并存着敬畏他的心去履行日常的义务，就必博得自己丈夫的尊重与信任，也必见到她的儿女长大后成为受人敬仰的男女，具有行善的道德本质了。但是那班忽略目前的机会，将她们的本分与负担卸在别人身上的母亲们，必发现她们的责任仍未摆脱，而且她们在轻率与疏忽中撒下的种子，将来更要怀着苦恼的心情去收割。此生绝无侥幸成功的事；将来收获，乃取决于现今所撒之种子的品质。[9]
§20
If woman looks to God for strength and comfort and in His fear seeks to perform her daily duties, she will win the respect and confidence of her husband and see her children coming to maturity honorable men and women, having moral stamina to do right. But mothers who neglect present opportunities, and let their duties and burdens fall upon others, will find that their responsibility remains the same, and they will reap in bitterness what they have sown in carelessness and neglect. There is no chance work in this life; the harvest will be determined by the character of the seed sown. {AH 250.2}[9]