Redeeming the Time

XI. Train them to a habit of always redeeming the time.

"It is the still water which becomes stagnant and impure: the running, moving streams are always clear. If you have steam machinery, you must work it, or it soon gets out of order. If you have a horse, you must exercise him; he is never so well as when he has regular work. If you would have good bodily health yourself, you must take exercise. If you always sit still, your body is sure at length to complain. And just so it is with the soul. The active moving mind is a hard mark for the devil to shoot at. Try to be always full of useful employment, and thus your enemy will find it difficult to get room to sow tares.

"Reader, I ask you to set these things before the minds of your children. Teach them the value of time, and try to make them learn the habit of using it well. It pains me to see children idling over what they have in hand, whatever it may be. I love to see them active and industrious, and giving their whole heart to all they do; giving their whole heart to lessons, when they have to learn;--giving their whole heart even to their amusements, when they go to play."

~ From The Duties of Parents, J. C. Ryle
(See our first post in this series)  
[Mr. Ryle has a lot to say regarding idleness in this section . I highly recommend reading it all. After giving his reasons for our need to avoid it as adults, he then applies it all to children, which part I've quoted here. ~ mr]