========================================================================
  BREAKING THE TUMBLERS
  by D.L. Moody
========================================================================

Summary: Keeping the Sabbath holy is crucial in setting a good example
for children and preventing them from breaking bad habits.

Topics: "Parental Influence", "Imitation in Children"
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 6:4

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

D.L. Moody emphasizes the powerful influence of parental behavior on
children, illustrating this with a story about a child imitating their
mother breaking a tumbler. He warns that children learn not only through
direct teaching but also by observing their parents' actions, which can
lead to negative behaviors such as breaking the Sabbath or lying. Moody
calls for parents to model the values they wish to instill in their
children, as imitation plays a significant role in their moral
development.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lady once told me she was in her pantry on one occasion, and she was
surprised by the ringing of a bell. As she whirled around to see what it
was, she broke a tumbler. Her little child was standing there, and she
thought her mother was doing a very correct thing, and the moment the
lady left the pantry, the child commenced to break all the tumblers she
could get hold of. You may laugh, but children are very good imitators.
If you don't want them to break the Sabbath day, keep it holy yourself.
It is very often by imitation that they utter their first oath; that
they tell their first lie, and it grows upon them, and when they try to
quit the habit, it has grown so strong upon them that they cannot do it.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/dl-moody/breaking-the-tumblers/
========================================================================