James 1:27 (NKJV) 27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
Isaiah 1:17 (NKJV) 17 "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow."
Exodus 22:22 "Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless."
Mrs. White took in many children, including orphans. In this letter she offers to take an orphan if the guardians refuse to show love to the child. The letter affirms the need to reassure the child that his home with the family is more than temporary.
"In all probability you have failed in not gaining the boy’s confidence and affection by giving him more tangible proofs of your love, by holding out some inducements. If you could not expend money, you could at least encourage in some way by letting him know you were not indifferent to his case."
If you cannot get along with ____ and love him and do abundantly well for him, and consider it a privilege to do this, a blessing Heaven has sent you, we will take the boy and do the best we can for him, treat him as our own son, till some place is provided for him. We have done this to many. Although we now have a little girl, which I took from a widowed mother who could not do for her all she needed to have done, although we are at home but a part of the time, the salvation of the soul is precious and I am willing to be put to inconvenience and care to do some good. A dying father and mother left their jewels to the care of the church, to be instructed in the things of God and fitted for heaven. When they shall look about for these jewels and one is found missing through neglect, what shall the church answer? They are responsible in a great degree for the salvation of these orphan children. {Lt15-1869.13}
In all probability you have failed in not gaining the boy’s confidence and affection by giving him more tangible proofs of your love, by holding out some inducements. If you could not expend money, you could at least encourage in some way by letting him know you were not indifferent to his case. But after eight months’ trial, if nothing has been said and the boy knows not what to expect, whether he is to consider himself at home and to receive something for what he does, or whether he is to go elsewhere in a short time, is enough to perplex and try him as it would you in like circumstances. That he is uneasy and restless—the only wonder to me is that he has not been more so. He knew he was at your house on trial. He loves his home; never was at a place he enjoyed himself so well as where he now lives. But his interest and love and affection cannot live without something to keep it alive. That the love and affection is to be all on one side is a mistake. How much have you really loved? How much affection have you educated yourself to manifest? You are too much shut up to yourselves and do not feel the necessity of surrounding yourselves with an atmosphere of tenderness and gentleness which comes from true nobility of soul. Brother and Sister ____ left their children to the care of the church. There were plenty of relatives who were wealthy, who wished for these children, but they were unbelievers, and if allowed to have the care or become the guardians of the children would lead their hearts away from the truth into error and endanger their salvation. This make their relatives dissatisfied and they have done nothing for the children. The confidence of the parents in the church should be considered and not be forgotten because of selfishness. {Lt15-1869.14}