You can't preach it - if you don't live it

I have found out the hard way that you can't preach it - if you don't live it. Beside the fact that your children see right through it, it rings hollow. You can't preach something you don't know inside and out. You can pretend, but you are really preaching someone else's message. And that doesn't go very far.

I am not a planner. I am not good at it because I spend so much time second guessing my plan. I also spend too much time making it a perfect plan. I act - only when I am forced to act. This is not a good way to live life but it is the way I am doing it now. Maybe one day this will change in my life. But for now - my life is one of doing what I have to do right now because I am up against a deadline. I spend a lot of time fighting fires of my own making.

It is no wonder my children live life the same way for the most part. I can't do it, so I don't preach it, and as a result they don't learn it. Maybe I should have faked it. So at least they would learn something. But I don't want to be that way. I want my kids to hear something from me - and then see it lived out in me. At least that way what they learn from me is genuine.

Who knows maybe they will teach me how to plan when they learn it. Now that will be a great day.

Talking to my children

I love talking to my kids. I enjoy hearing them share about something that is new to them. As you may know, I have three children in college. Lots of things are new to them and changing their lives. I receive joy, when they share about the light bulbs that go off in their minds. For them the world is opening up before their eyes. Every stage of their life has been a treasure for me. My admonition is; as you prospect for gold in your children's life, don't overlook the silver before you each day.

They claim they are busy. My hunch is, they are just acting busy. They assert they do not have enough time. I keep reminding them that everyone has enough time to do the things they WANT to do. They need to do the right thing. I think they are learning that, slowly but surely.

I don't know why it surprises me when they have a different view than I do. I raised them to think for themselves. I felt like my job was to train them to fly on their own. I am proud to say they are doing that. I am always available for consultation. But they don't call much for advise. I take that as a compliment. They feel adult enough to make decisions for themselves. The way it should be.