LEAD BY EXAMPLE

What we do now as parents, our children will take with them and may be what they will be like as parents when they have children. It's not just our children we may be an example to, but an example to our grand children and their grand children.....

"Be an example . . . in speech, in the way you live,in your love, your faith, and your purity."
1 Tim. 4:12

The mother must strive to be herself, just what she wishes her child to be. She must cherish in her own spirit those virtues and those graces, which she desires to see as the embellishments of the character of her child.Our children have more right to expect that we shall be model parents--than we have to require that they shall be model children.

Words alone are air. They fall upon the ear, and are forgotten. But who ever forgets abiding, consistent, unvarying example? What child ever ceases to remember the life--the daily life, of its father and mother?

The ornaments and graces of the natural character can best be inculcated upon children through the influence of example. Would you have your daughter learn to control her passions,and cultivate a subdued, gentle, and submissive spirit?
Would you have her speak soothingly to her little brother, when he is irritated, and bear her own little troubles without fretfulness or complaining? Show her how to do it by your example!

In the same manner, all other right moral sentiments of heart, can be best cultivated through the influence of parental example.

The great work of the formation of the character of children, should be done in the heart of the mother herself. I am to teach my child to avoid vanity, and pride, and selfishness--by cultivating within myself, with never-tiring industry, the spirit of meekness, of humility, of self-sacrifice. It is thus, more effectually than in any other way, that I am to reach and influence his heart.

So I am to curb the impetuous passions of my child, mainly by gaining the victory over myself, and bringing all my own passions under perfect control. It is thus within myself--it is in my own heart, that I can work most effectually in molding
the character of my children; for in promoting their moral progress I must go before them and lead the way.

What fearful questions, then, arise in the mind of every parent? Am I what I wish my child to be? Am I grateful, submissive, cheerful? Have I conquered my passions--obtained weanedness from the world--and am I daily, in my life, presenting an example such as my child may safely imitate?

Here lies the great work of parental faithfulness. Here is to be laid the deep foundations of all salutary family discipline. Thus did our Savior plead. Such was the influence He wielded. Persuasive as were His words--infinitely more
persuasive was the power of His example!

(John Abbott)



Proverbs 23:26 "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."

2Tim 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 29:17 "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

Titus 2:4 "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"