Parents, caught in an inconsistency, have dismissively defaulted to a frustrated excuse, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Our children need our consistent example. “More is caught than is ever taught.” Albert Schweitzer said, “Example isn’t the best method of teaching…it’s the only method.”
If a parent doesn’t want to take a phone call and says, “Tell him I’m not home.” A child is taught to lie. If a parent discourages a teen from taking recreational drugs, but the parent drinks alcohol to escape pressures, he/she presents a double standard. If a parent misrepresents a child’s age, in order to receive a discounted admission price, a child learns that is acceptable to steal discreetly from another’s business.
The sign at the movie theatre read, “4 and under free.” Wanting to take advantage and get the discounted price the father said to his son, “Tell them you are 4. Just for now, during the movie.”
The ticket-taker asked the child innocently, “And how old are you?” The child answered, “Four.” “Oh, and when will you turn 5?” The boy explained, “My Dad says after the movie is over, I’ll be five!”
I like the way the Living Bible paraphrases Titus 2:7– “Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth and the fact that you are in dead earnest about it.”
Our children are watching our every move during their early years. They want to know what is most important to us. If we hope to instill within them a faith that will last for a lifetime, then they must see and feel our passion for God.
Parents must always remember that children are a gift from God. They are entrusted to us, for a little while, but ultimately, they belong to the heavenly Father. Our duty is to guide them to submit to His authority in their lives. It is a responsibility with eternal importance and paramount urgency.
A mother of two small children wrote child psychologist, Dr. James Dobson, this letter…
“Dear Dr. Dobson,
A few months ago, I was making several phone calls in the family room where my 3 year old daughter, Adrianne, and my 5 month old son, Nathan, were playing quietly. Nathan loves Adrianne, who has been learning, since the time of his birth, how to mother him gently.
I suddenly realized that the children were no longer in view. Panic-stricken, I quickly hung up the phone and went looking for the pieces. Down the hall and around the corner, I found the children playing cheerfully in Adrianne’s bedroom.
Relieved and upset, I shouted, ‘Adrianne, you know you are not allowed to carry Nathan! He is too little and you could hurt him if he fell!’
Startled, she answered, ‘I didn’t, Mommy.’
Knowing he couldn’t crawl, I suspiciously demanded, ‘Well, then, how did he get all the way into your room?’
Confident of my approval for her obedience, she said with a smile, ‘I rolled him!’
He is still alive and they are still best friends. 🙂 Sincerely,”
Now there is a parent who has instilled in her child a faithful submission to authority! When Adrianne gets older, she will be better able to obey God and acknowledge His authority.
Jeff Stone
Lead Minister-Batesville Christian Church
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