Do as I say..

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I wish bringing up kids came with this disclaimer, "Do as I say, don't do as I do"!

Unfortunately, just the opposite of it is true. I find myself lecturing Daniel on how not to bite his nails. His poor nails are bitten and there's hardly anything left on it. But, why would he stop? He sees his mommy biting her nails all the time, and she just can't stop either.

I tell him to smile and say 'Good Morning' to people he meets. I expect him to play with kids his age, make friends. He doesn't want to do that, and I'm somewhat upset that he won't be polite. But, his mommy does much the same. I would rather dig  a hole and sit in it the whole day, rather than socializing and smiling at random strangers.

If my children find me ignoring phone calls, and putting my phone on mute, they are going to find people a nuisance, and learn to do the same. If I choose to splatter my face with makeup or wear inappropriate clothes, my child is going to want to do the same. If I don't find time to fill the spiritual void in my life, how would my children grow up with any understanding of God?

So, if children are like sponges, why do we expect them to take in the good and reject the bad? Why do we expect them to pay more importance to our preaching and less on our actions? Children can spot double standards in adults better than anyone else can, and they will call you on it, and throw it right back at your face. 

I pray to God to give me the wisdom to look at my own life, before I try to change my children. It is not condemnation. It is a sinking sense of reality. We expect perfect kids, but we haven't figured out what we want to do with our own lives. 

“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.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9

God cannot work through our weakness, if we don't recognize or admit our failings. I pray that God will give me the courage to tell my children when I'm wrong in my actions. I pray that I won't hide behind my excuses on how I can't fix it. I pray that God will show us His grace, as we stumble through life, knowing His truth but still choosing to walk away from it.

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