Grandchildren & Children = Are You Being a Good Example?

The Blessings of Grandchildren

That old saying, “If I had known how much fun grandchildren were going to be, I would have skipping having children and just had grandchildren,” has some truth in it.

I don’t think that it’s the difference in children...whether your own children...or your children’s children (grandchildren).

I really believe that it’s the difference in our perspectives as we grow a little bit older.

As I begin to enjoy the “twilight of my youth”, it becomes really clear that life is short and it goes by so quickly. I know that it will not be long before my grandchildren will be grown, because I watched it happen with their parents.

It was only yesterday when their parents, my children, were their ages. I want to keep them small but I know that’s not going to happen…life goes by quickly and they grow up whether we want it to or not.

Those first few years of life are so important in many ways. Our children are learning from us in ways that we do not even think about. That makes it extremely important that we handle the things that life brings us in ways that will be a good example to them.

It is important enough that we should stop and think about the example that we are setting because when it gets absorbed by the little ones around us, they are learning to handle those situations when they grow up.

Some things to think about: • Am I setting the correct example for my children in my attitudes and actions toward others, especially toward them, but also toward clients, customers, neighbors, check-out people at stores, other drivers on the road... , everyone?

• Am I setting the correct example in my attitude toward things? Remember these words, “Use things and love people NOT use people and love things.”

• Do I properly care for the things that I own? Not only are they learning from us about dealing with people, but they also pick up on how to take care of things that we own. The children of today will grow up to be the clients of tomorrow.  Teaching them to care for their rooms and belongings may equate into them taking good care of their home some day.

I am a Christian, so as I deal with my children, grandchildren, clients, customers, etc it is important that I think about that. We are supposed to be showing the world Christ in us.

Also as we take care of the things that God provides for us, we are being good stewards and setting that example. I am always feeling like I need to be a better example and handle things better than I do and I pray that each day I am a better person than the day before.

Ponderings for June 20, 2008