Sæktu forritiðChildren Emulate Their Parents: A 3-Day Parenting PlanSýnishorn
Faithful Role Models
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Unlikely as it sounds, I (Dr. Dobson) decided to become a Christian at four years of age. I remember the occasion clearly. I was attending a Sunday evening church service and was sitting near the back with my mother. My father was the pastor; he invited those who wished to do so to come forward, and I joined them. I recall crying and asking Jesus to forgive my sins. It is overwhelming for me now to imagine the King of the universe caring about an insignificant kid barely out of toddlerhood!
Not all children will heed a call to faith that early or dramatically, of course—nor should they be expected to. Yet it is important to note that my conversion at that young age was possible because of my parents’ example. From my first days, I saw them on their knees, praying and talking to the Lord. They later told me that I attempted to pray before I learned to talk, imitating the sounds I had heard.
If you set a faithful example beginning with the day your sons and daughters are born, they will never forget what they have seen and heard. Even if they reject God later, the remnant of those early memories will be with them for the rest of their lives—and may well bring them back to the fold. As parents, this is our privilege and duty as outlined in Scripture: “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, KJV).
Questions for Today . . .
- How is your faith example influencing your kids’ walk with God?
- Do you need to pray for a stronger, more visible faith?
Prayer . . .
Our Father, how will our children know You unless they see us seeking You above all else? By Your strength, grant that our ways would match our words. As our children look to us as an example, may they see Jesus. Amen.
(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Parents. Used with permission.)
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About this Plan
There may be no more sobering reality for us as parents than to realize that our children are learning how to talk, think, and act based on the direction and examples we set for them through daily life. Children notice and imitate what they see and hear from us. The principle of “more is caught than taught” is at work to a greater extent than we realize, which underscores the power of influence.
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