Leading Myself

The older my kids get, the more useless my words become.

If I give them advice or tell them to do something, they might listen and obey. But if I’m not following my own marching orders, how long will they do so?

That’s why it’s important for me to hear the things I’m saying and make sure to keep my side of the street clean. If I want to lead them, I must lead myself.

If I want my daughter to avoid procrastination, I need to have a bias toward action.

If I want my sons to speak kindly to their sister and mom, I need to avoid flippant comments and sarcasm.

If I want my children to follow hard after God, I need to make my faith a priority and find ways to serve others.

I can’t just tell them to be nice, pray, do their work early, be responsible, get exercise, and so forth and so on.

They have to see me practice what I preach.

They have to see me lead myself in order for them to have an example of how to lead themselves. My words are not an example to them – as wise and insightful as they might be. My children need to see my story unfold with the elements of discipline and character I hope that they develop in their young lives.

I must lead myself in order for me to lead them well.