NOV 17
November 17.
"Hannah did not go. She said to her husband—After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always." 1 Samuel 1:22
Just at this time, Hannah's religious duties were at home. Her child required her attention, and she believed that she was worshiping God acceptably, in staying at Ramah and mothering her boy. No doubt she was right. A mother's first duties—are to her children. No amount of public religious service, will atone for neglect of her sacred home tasks. She may attend Dorcas meetings and missionary services, do good work among the poor, and carry blessings to many a sorrowful home; but if she fails meanwhile to look after her own children—she has miserably failed to serve God.
A mother's first duty—is to bring up her children for God. Whatever she can do for others after that, will be acceptable to God.
Many things must be crowded out of every earnest life, things that are good and desirable in themselves. No one can do everything that needs to be done, and we must select the things we shall do. But it will be a sad thing if a mother allows the proper care of her own children to be crowded out of her life, by the appeals on behalf of other people's children, the calls for public service however important, or the cries of any other human needs in the world. These outside duties may be hers in some measure—but the duties of the home—are hers and no others!