Practice what He preaches

"Share your toys, we keep our hands to ourselves, we do not stick things in our diaper, we love our friends, do that one more time and you'll be sorry."

This is my daily mantra.  Really, I'm like a recorder on repeat.  Well, maybe not the sticking things in your diaper comment, that, thankfully only happens every now and again.   Those words though, come with the territory of being a mother and a nanny.  Or even just a parent for that matter.  We tell our kids to share, we tell them to be nice to their friends, we tell them to forgive, we teach them that if  they hurt someone to say sorry, and if someone hurts them, to show grace.

After spending a week with my niece (7) and nephew (4), I realized just how much we drill these things into our children.  But at some point in our growing up, it suddenly becomes okay to only share in certain circumstances, to only say sorry if it makes you feel better, to only forgive when the offense is small.  When in our upbringing does the old "Do unto others" saying (aka Matthew 7:12)stop ringing true?  The Message translates it best, ""Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them..."

A simple rule. A guide for behavior.

Last time that neighbor came over to borrow your best tools, did you share, or just give them the old crusty ones you have lying around?  When your friend showed up late or cancelled your last date, were you nice about it?   When that old man cut you off in traffic just to drive 5 mph below the speed limit, did you show him grace?  What about that family member who so deeply offended and hurt you, did you forgive and turn the other cheek?

When's the last time you said you were sorry?

Toddling A told me she was sorry this afternoon.  I can't remember the last time I said it, except for maybe that "casual I don't really know or mean what I'm saying sorry" when you bump someone in the grocery store with your cart.  Yeah, not what I'm referring to.

Toddling A, without a second thought, forgave me today after I yelled at her out of frustration.  And I struggle to forgive when someone I don't even know is rude to me. 


Forgiveness isn't about admitting that what the other person did was right, forgiveness sets YOU free.

Forgiveness lets you get on with your day, on with your life.

Whether you believe in God or not, we can't deny that all these are behaviors and actions we want our children to model. Nobody says to their child, "hey be mean to that kid and don't share anything with him."  No, we want our children to be upstanding, well accepted children.

But the truth is, sharing and being nice and showing grace and extending unconditional forgiveness, those are all characteristics of Jesus.

Yep, that guy, the one who made us in his image.  The one who commands us to follow in his footsteps.

So my question is, how can we ask and expect such things of our children if we can't, ourselves, do the things Jesus expects and asks of us?

Let's start living up to His expectations and just maybe our children will follow.