I was speaking recently with a parent whose kids are grown, and I asked him what advice he would give to a young parent like myself with kids still at home. Do you want to know what he said? Here it is… “One of the best pieces of advice I’d give to any parent to make sure their kids turn out right is this…
LOOK IN THE MIRROR…
And learn to take care of that person who’s reflection you see. Because when you learn to take care of that person, and to become all that God wants you to be, you have automatically become all the parent that your kids need you to be for them as well.”
I’d have to say, that’s some great advice!
It really doesn’t matter what you say to your kids about right and wrong, or even how loudly you ‘preach’ to them about living for God, if they don’t see those things exemplified in your everyday life, they are very unlikely to stick to theirs.
The saying holds true that “Our faith is more often caught than it is taught.”
“More than you kids will become what you say, they will become who you are.”
How well are you doing at taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually?
How well are you doing at exemplifying your expectations for your kids, not just expecting them from your kids?
Could we honestly say to our children what the Apostle Paul was bold enough to say to his spiritual children in Philippians 4:9?
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
If your children do as you do:
- Will God bless their lives with His peace?
- Will you want them doing the same things that they have learned, received, heard, and seen in you?
Every day your kids are becoming something. Something different and something more than they were yesterday. Everyday your kids are becoming more of you. Is the ‘you’ that they are becoming the person you want them to be?