Coyans in the Czech Republic

Invitation to a changed life

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

There are so many things I want for my kids. Mostly, though, I want for them to love God and serve Him with their whole life. As of late, I have been kind of annoyed with my children. They aren't polite enough. They don't listen. They are unkind to each other. They are complaining constantly. They think reading their Bible is boring. They don't want to pray. They are selfish. They won't help out. I keep telling them how they should be. I am super good at lectures. In fact, many of my friends would call me to hear the daily "sermon". I quote scripture. I list rules. Nothing works. Then I had this epiphany...they are a reflection of me. I am asking them to love God with all their heart, mind and soul and to love their neighbor as themselves. I am asking them to obey and be kind and read their Bible etc. All I am doing is talking at them. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that I am the one setting the example. I know what is right to do but I am not doing it either. I am expecting from them what I am not willing to do myself. The virtues I want to see in them I must first cultivate in my own life so I can be a quiet loving example, not a loud unheard list of demands. I am currently reading the book of Luke to learn from the greatest example of how to live, Jesus. As he healed the leper in Luke chapter 5: "Jesus instructed him, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." My children need to see my life in order, my heart serving the Lord, my actions serving others, not myself, so that they can learn how to live a life pleasing to God.