Do as I Say!

There are a few, if any of us, who are smart enough to convince our children that they should not do things that we make a practice of. And there are few, if any of us, who are capable of convincing our children that they should to things which we neglect to do. The logic of words and the force of argument are not the means by which those who live with us and watch us acquire their most fixed impressions and most lasting lessons. Long before a child can understand our instructions, he can imitate what he sees and senses. It is more the manner of our living than the words by which we would explain it that modifies the moral fibre of the children God has given us. And no man has taught his children as fully and effectively as he could or should until he has lived his own teachings and proved them to be good in his own life. It is well enough to issue the command: “Do as I say”but the children of men are inclined to do as their fathers do. This we should know and never forget we who are rearing and teaching the generation whose world this will be tomorrow. And we should not be surprised if our children grow up to be like us in many ways that matter much.