"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
training and instruction of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4
"Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6
How do our kids see us? In the few short years that we have been parents, there have been countless lessons learned. I would almost venture to say that a 4-year-old has taught us more than we have taught him! Not from lack of effort on our part either! I am not talking about the major life lessons that we tend to focus on; I'm talking about the small actions that we carry out each day, perhaps the lessons that we don’t even think about. For Example Recently, we were talking about how much kids observe. Meaning, they never miss a word we say or an action that we make. Just when it seems like they aren’t paying attention, they are listening to every conversation and sometimes from even two rooms away! I'll admit, occasionally I've heard, “Dad, we don’t say that word." Yes, that makes me feel terrible, even if the word wasn’t “that bad” in my mind. These small lessons have really registered with me. When I attempt to see the world through the eyes of a 4-year-old, it puts a new spin on things. Question Am I planning my actions and thinking about my words in a way that would enable my son to see how a true man of God should daily talk and interact with others? I encourage each of you to be aware of your words and actions around your kids, there are many life lessons to be learned everyday. Our children are a blessing to us and we are designed to learn and grow along with them. And hey, viewing the world like a 4-year old can be fun. You will have a whole new appreciation for chicken nuggets and dinosaurs!
Jon Ross Henderson MD5 Facilitator