Amen, Brother Beacon!
As my favorite chapter in The Desire of Ages, "As a Child," (Chapter 7) I so appreciate the character lessons that we can receive from Jesus as we also continue to grow and develop in character and reflect His image more fully from day to day as we surrender the whole heart to Him. As long as we are abiding in Christ, all of the fruits of the Sprit will be seen in our lives without one missing, and we will gladly go where God's Spirit leads us.
"As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, mind and body were developed. He did not use His physical powers recklessly, but in such a way as to keep them in health, that He might do the best work in every line. He was not willing to be defective, even in the handling of tools. He was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character. By His own example He taught that it is our duty to be industrious, that our work should be performed with exactness and thoroughness, and that such labor is honorable. The exercise that teaches the hands to be useful and trains the young to bear their share of life's burdens gives physical strength, and develops every faculty. All should find something to do that will be beneficial to themselves and helpful to others. God appointed work as a blessing, and only the diligent worker finds the true glory and joy of life. The approval of God rests with loving assurance upon children and youth who cheerfully take their part in the duties of the household, sharing the burdens of father and mother. Such children will go out from the home to be useful members of society." {The Desire of Ages, page 72, paragraph 4}
What a joy it is to do work the way Jesus did it--with exactness and thoroughness, with a continual sense that we are doing all we do to the glory of God! It is a joy to live in the country and to be able to experience the blessings that are in some way similar to Jesus, who grew up in the little mountain village of Nazareth. Wherever we find ourselves today, we can cooperate with Jesus as He imbues us with His precious traits of character. And as we live this example, it in turn prepares us to teach the children that God gives us--whether in the family, the church, or the community--to train for God so that they may be ready for heaven because they have heaven in their hearts!