Little eyes are always learning. In fact, they often learn faster and quicker than little ears. We can try to teach life lessons through our wonderful words of wisdom, but if our children aren’t seeing it in real-time as they observe our lives, the lesson is often lost. “Do as I say, not as I do,” just doesn’t fly.

My grandpa Sandy was a wonderful example to me. His resourcefulness, wisdom, and kind demeanor made me want to live up to his standards. Although he lived hundreds of miles away, he was still a light and an influence to me whenever we were together. So what are some practical ways to set a glowing example as parents or grandparents? Allow me to offer several simple thoughts:

• Let them see you being Kind and respectful toward others. Make a genuine and sincere effort to be thoughtful to everyone you encounter, from waitstaff to cashiers to neighbors. As our children observe our kindness in action, they will learn one of life’s most valuable lessons.
• Let them see how you handle a challenge or a crisis. If we hope to raise resilient kids, then we must demonstrate how to face difficulties with wisdom, peace, and fortitude.  One of the greatest actions we can show our kids is how to handle the ups and downs of life. When we pray for God’s help in the midst of frustrations or heartaches, we are helping them learn to seek God’s guidance through life’s storms.
• Let them see you apologize. Let’s be honest, we don’t always get it right. We rarely respond exactly as we want. There are times when we must ask for forgiveness. Just because we are older doesn’t mean we are perfect. When we apologize, we teach our children humility, forgiveness, and how to say I’m sorry.
• Let them see you laugh. Find joy in life and share it with others. Smile often. Play games, tell jokes, read silly books, and go to fun places. Help your kids learn to enjoy life as you share a hearty dose of happiness from your own example.  

Sometimes the way up is down. Not too long ago, I read a book called Humility, in which author Andrew Murray reminds us that true humility comes from recognizing our complete dependence on the Lord. We can’t even be humble on our own – we need the humility of Christ, which comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. So, let’s begin our journey to being a great example for the next generation by humbly asking the Lord to help us. We can’t do this on our own.

Photo by Benjamin Elliott on Unsplash