Teaching our children right from wrong is a huge parental responsibility. We can tell them to do one thing but, unless they see it modeled by us, they will ignore our words, often doing the opposite. There is no worse example for a child than a hypocritical parent.
Did you see the news yesterday about some parents bribing their child's way to get into fancy colleges? Forget the SAT tests and your GPA. Money talks! What kind of example does that set for their children? They'll just grow up to be spoiled little brats. Or worse.
Training up a child is the single most important job a parent has. But the best way to train that child is often overlooked. The best way to train up a child is how the parents actually live THEIR lives. Kids start out loving their parents and want to emulate them. But kids are very smart. They can see a hypocrite a long way off.
I was listening to a mother the other day who was telling me about her son's first date. What a gentleman he was! Taking her out to dinner and a movie, opening the door for his date, treating her like she should be treated. What was the secret of this mom's success? She and her husband modeled good behavior for their children. The child learned by it and benefitted from it.
Oh sure, there are always exceptions - bad kids from good parents, good kids from abusive situations - but largely, good kids come from good parents.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6
As God's children, we too learn from our Father's example. He has taught us through His Word and through His Son, Jesus. Is God YOUR Father? Or are we learning and trying to become like "the world"? Only one of those choices will have a good outcome. Which will we choose?
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15
Mom Charged In College Admissions Case - Inside Edition
No comments:
Post a Comment