THIRTY-FIRST LESSON
On Good Example.
"Let all things be done to edification. "—ST. PAUL, I Corinthians 14:26.
Those amongst you, my children, who are the eldest of their family, have duties to perform towards their younger brothers and sisters; the first of these duties is to set a good example.
All children, and particularly the younger ones, imitate most easily whatever is done before them; and as they have not discernment enough to distinguish good from evil, it is very important never to do anything wrong before them, for fear that, in imitating you, they contract bad habits, which at a later period might become real defects. You owe this good example, not only to very little children, but also to those who are nearer to you in age, to your companions, to your friends. No doubt, they are not obliged to imitate the faults they see you commit, and their duty, like yours, is to take example of what is good; but the child who is often wanting in courage to perform a duty, particularly when it depends on the sacrifice of what is agreeable, is still more easily drawn on by bad example, and the wrong done by others seems to serve as an excuse for his own faults. What is the result of this, my friends? That those that have given this bad example have been doubly guilty, first of all, guilty on their own account, for evil is forbidden them, guilty also for having taught others to commit evil.
There is one thing, children give much more easily than good example, and that is advice. The child who has the most faults speaks often very highly of the qualities he has not, and whenever an opportunity offers, he knows how to reproach his brother with a fault he himself commits every day. Are there not many things to say to this little giver of advice? First of all, since you know so perfectly what is wrong, are you not all the more inexcusable if you are not better behaved? then, should you not correct yourself before wishing to correct others? In a word, is not example more efficacious than advice? Do you want to know the reason of this, my children? It is because our vanity is easily wounded by observations made on our behavior, it is because we do not much like to have certain truths told us, it is especially because a child cannot bear to be found fault with by another child. It would, in truth, be much better to benefit by good advice, without minding from whence it came: but are children always wise? You, in particular, you, who find fault with others, arc you wiser than they?
Do not then reproach your little friends; only at such time, and as often as would be really useful; try rather to give them good example, which, without paining them, may induce them to do better.
And in order to be sure, my dear children, of never giving your brothers any but good example to follow, begin by following yourselves the virtuous examples you have under your eyes. Imitate those which are given you by your parents and by the good and well-behaved children with whom you are acquainted; remember too the affecting and beautiful models offered in holy Scripture, the piety of Abel, the love and kindness Joseph showed his brothers, the filial tenderness of Tobias, the submission of Isaac and Samuel, and above all, the divine childhood of Jesus Christ.
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