5.
In the care of the body much depends on keeping it clean. Dear Children, when you were small, your mothers and caretakers kept you clean. Now you are bigger and it is reasonable that you are now expected as soon as possible to learn to keep your body and members clean. You wash in the morning and then as often as necessary you wash not only your hands but your face as well, in cold water. And be sure to get the impurities that gather there out of your eyes. It is also very good when you wash daily with water that part of your head that is behind the ears. Likewise take cold water in your mouth and gargle so that your gums become clean. Commonly a slime builds up on the teeth and you can rub this away with your fingers each day when you have water in your mouth.
You also have to keep your ears clean. When you find it necessary to make water or to go to the toilet, do not delay, for this will harm you. One will not neglect admonishing you to cleanliness. The feet must also be washed from time to time.
6. [part]
The clothing we need is also part of the care of the body. God wants us to cover our bodies and not go around naked. He Himself gave the first humans clothing made of skins. Thus it is God’s way of ordering things that children cover their bodies and not expose themselves to others. When you were still small you couldn’t dress yourselves. Now that you are getting bigger it is necessary that you learn to do this. And the sooner you learn to do this the better. It is not difficult if you let yourself be instructed how this is to be done. I have known children who, when they undressed in the evening before going to bed, laid their clothing in such order that everything had its place. They did this so that they could find everything in the dark and have everything handy. For it can come to pass that a child must get up quickly in the night and dress itself, for example if there is danger from a fire or if something else happens to it. And it helps them in the morning when they want to dress that they don’t have to look around for a long time but have everything close at hand. Don’t only be content with the clothes given to you by the Good Lord through your parents and other friends, but be grateful as well. Always remember: “I am unworthy of the least of these and I am pleasing to God not because of a [...]
Something
of Bodily Care for Children
Translated by Pastor Roy Ledbetter
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