Not Before Coffee

Have you ever looked around at people who brag about all they do as if they were trying to convince the world of their worth?

Have you ever listened to people who preach the Bible then turn around and act in a way that can’t be very Christian-like?

My husband and I have had several conversations about “leading by example” and when it should be considered in lessons for our kids.

It’s easy to tell your kids what to do – it’s far more difficult to show them.

I’ve raised my kids to know that having a charitable heart for the simple sake of making a person happy, putting a smile on someone’s face or helping meet a simple basic need is worth far more than putting money in a plate at church to help build a new wing or worth more than sending money to a charity that rewards you with a sticker or picture that adorns your refrigerator letting all your guests know what a generous person you are. My kids see the little African girl on the fridge of some relatives and she looks strikingly similar to the one in the photo on the television commercial. We do have to wonder just how many people have adopted a single child in the name of charity.

There have been times my kids and I played Santa for little ones who still believe, but if Christmas came and went those years, they would have learned earlier than necessary that the Santa in everyone’s dreams did not exist.

There was a time my kids found money laying outside an ATM – the bank told us there was no way to trace who it actually belonged to and told us it was ours. Rather than keeping the money, my kids and I thought hard on what we could do with it. My kids decided on making a purchase that would benefit the children at Riley Children’s Hospital.

My kids have come to me on occasion and asked if we could purchase some doggie treats and toys and visit the local animal shelter – they enjoy playing with the dogs there and showing them a little love and human kindness, they may otherwise not experience.

Those are just a few examples – the rest of our charitable experiences are special and private – sometimes it’s nice to just keep those things personal – it’s like sharing special memories in a family.

I don’t think I have to preach the Bible to my kids in a way that makes them cringe at the thought of going to church – we usually make it a few times a year.  I think there’s much more to life – far more lessons to be learned when I step out, lead by example and watch the seeds that have been planted in my kids.

Watching and listening to the charitable and humble hearts that my kids are growing up with is such a rewarding feeling – I can’t imagine being more proud.