Sometimes actions speak louder than words and that’s especially true when it comes to parenting. Last week my husband and I stopped by a local fast food place just long enough to let our eleven year old twins run in and get something to eat. As usual we were in a hurry and they had been instructed not to dally. They rushed in the door and took their place in line. It was the supper hour and the restaurant was crowded. Suddenly one of the boys saw an elderly lady shuffling to the door. She carried her food, purse, and coat. As Bill and I watched our son left his place in line and ran to open the door for the woman. He held it for her and when she thanked him he politely said, “you’re welcome.”

    When the boys came back to the car I immediately did what my wise pediatrician told me to do years ago. She advised me to always give praise to my children when I “caught them being good.”

    “Russell,” I said, “I noticed how you left your place in line and opened the door for the lady. That was very nice.”

    He looked at his father and smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I learned that from my daddy. I’ve seen him do that.”

    Bill and I smiled at each other. It was one of those special parenting moments (similar to a Kodak moment) when you get such a rush of love for your child that your heart swells.

    Parents can tell their children how to behave but showing them is so much more effective. Modeling appropriate behavior makes a much more powerful statement. And Christianity works the same way. When we follow in Jesus’s footsteps and do His will we are shining His light into a very dark world. We can tell others about Jesus but if we don’t show them by the lives that we live, our words won’t mean a thing.

    I once read a story about a young mother who was trying to clean her house. Her young son was following her wherever she went. He was consistently in the way and under her feet. Finally after she had stepped on his feet for the third time she stopped what she was doing, placed her hands on her hips and looked down at him in frustration. “Son, what are you doing?”

    He looked back up at her and said, “Mommy, my Sunday School teacher says I am to walk in Jesus’ footsteps but since he’s not here today, I thought I’d walk in yours.”

    Our children look to us for guidance but if what we say isn’t what we do, they soon stop listening. Parents are mere mortals and yes, we make mistakes, but if we consistently try to walk in Jesus’ footsteps then we will lead our children in the right direction. Because we are only human sometimes we may not know what the right direction is.

    Not long ago I was invited to speak in a nearby community to elementary school students about writing. When I finished speaking, I left the school and drove back to the interstate to head home. About ten miles down the road, I saw a sign that said “Glendale Exit.” I looked at that sign in amazement. Instead of going south to my home I was going north!

    I had thought I was going in the right direction, but I wasn’t. The longer I stayed on that road, the further I got from my intended destination. The more I thought about the experience, the more I saw parallels between what happened to me and religion.

If we consistently try to walk in Jesus’ footsteps then we will lead our children in the right direction.

    There are some very good people in the world who think they are on the right road but they aren’t. Either they are too proud to stop and ask directions (for help) or they don’t want to take the time to read a map (the Bible) and so they just keep driving, ignoring the road signs as they press on.

    Others think that it doesn’t matter what road you are on; that all roads can lead to Heaven. They don’t.

    John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” And Ephesians 4:5 says “{There is} one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

    Not three, not two....one.

    One God, one Jesus, one Holy Spirit, and one road to Heaven. Not my way or your way but His way.

    How can we know Jesus if we don’t seek Him? How can we have a relationship with Him if we don’t pray? How can we do His will if we don’t attend church and invite others to go with us? How can we expect a home in Heaven if we don’t feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, and offer those who are thirsty a cup of cold water? How can we expect our children to know Jesus if we don’t know Him ourselves?

    Learn to walk in His footsteps. We can’t be a “perfect” example for our children, but He is. Following Him will change your life. It will determine where you spend eternity and when we walk in the Lord not only are we are on the right road, but we are also leading our children in the right direction.

 

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Title: "The Perfect Example"
Author: Teresa Bell Kindred
Publication Date: April 8, 2003