LEADING BY EXAMPLE
A Mother Duck, Left, Takes Her Ducklings for a Walk up a Flight of Cement Steps(Originally written October 8, 2007)
We went to the Maxwell's Homeschooling Conference this last weekend in Wausau, WI. It was wonderful to just "be" with other Christian homeschooling families.
So much was coming together for me between these two conferences. (I attended the MHA conference on Sept 29 with Sandra Dodd as the guest speaker.) I am such a mix of philosophies and thoughts :) LOL
I think I have had a HUGE revelation about christian child training. It is ALL about example! Living a life that your children will want to follow. It should not be nagging and trying to "fix" them. It's all about you!
What does your relationship with Jesus look like?
How is your self-discipline?
How do you view "work"?
How do you treat others?
Do you use your words to encourage and edify?
Do you gossip about others?
Do you gossip about your children and/or your husband?
Do you act out in frustration or anger?
Are you calm and peaceable?
If YOU do not have the traits that you desire in your children, you can not expect them to exhibit those traits.
So many times I have expected my children to behave in ways that I do not behave consistently. :( Like expecting them to get along with their siblings. Question: Am I able to achieve that as an adult in my sibling relationships? No. I do not always get along with my siblings. So here comes the child training part...I must learn how to lovingly interact with MY own siblings. :D Through this example, I am training my children. Every time I fail in being respectful to my siblings, I must confess it and ask for forgiveness. Being open with my children about my sin and discussing how I can do better next time. And then truly striving to do better next time around.
I was really amazed by what the Lord showed me this weekend. All of the things that the children do that need to be fixed came from Rich and I! :( We taught them through our poor behaviors. Now we must re-teach them by fixing ourselves.
To me, this is what Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is all about! (King James Version)
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Your life should be saturated with God's Word so that you may teach your children in every day activities, how you carry yourself, how you behave in situations, how you treat others, and how you see the world around you.....all day long. Every day. You must be demonstrating the attitude and traits you desire for your children to have.
Lord.....help me to truly be a good example to my children. I know that my flesh is weak but you can use my weakness for Your glory Lord. For "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10
