Can we allow a mother to be queen in our hearts if she interferes with
duty to Christ ? When Christ called James and John they did not
argue about filial duty. " They immediately left the ship and their
father and followed Him." Rev. Edward Judson writes of his father :
" The Rev. Dr. GrifBn had proposed him as his colleague in the largest
church in Boston. ' And you will be so near home,' his mother said.
' No,' was his reply, ' I shall never live in Boston. I have much
farther than that to go.' The ambitious hopes of his father were over-
thrown, and his mother and sister shed many regretful tears." If God
says " go," no home tie is strong ^enough to be valid. Should I not
consult with my parents? (Gal. 1: 15-17). Let God, not your
parents, settle this question. You should pray for them and give them
the facts. If consecrated they will in time feel the force of Christ's
command as do you, and will bid you " God speed " in the work. But
what if parents are financially dependent upon me? If you are an
only child and the support of an aged father or mother rests upon you,
then you may be exempt. But if there are other children in the
family, you are under no more obligation than they to support parents
— yes, not so much.
