From the Elder's Pen "Your Example Is Showing" 6/15/03 Past/Future Articles

     Two young people were involved in an automobile accident.  The young girl, a high school student, was badly injured and her companion was killed.  Their parents found from the hospital attendants that the young couple had been drinking at the time of the accident.  The girl’s father flew into a rage and said, “Just let me get my hands on the person that sold them the liquor; I’ll kill him!”  After returning home, he went to get a drink to “quiet his nerves” but found his bottle missing.
     It is important to recognize that influence is a powerful thing.  We cannot live one way and expect our children to live another!  A father that whipped his son for swearing, and swore himself while he was whipping him, did more harm by his example than good by his correction.  A large part of their training comes from the example they see in our lives as parents.  In the words of a Spanish proverb:  “Live with wolves, and you will learn to howl.”
     Do you want your children to be honest, truthful, and pure morally?  If the answer to this question is yes, then you must show them these virtues in your life.  Someone has said: “there is a transcendant power in example.  We reform others unconsciously, when we walk uprightly.”
     There are many excellent reasons for being a Christian and living faithfully the Christian life, and surely one of these is to set the right example before those we love.  If you are an unconverted parent, do you want your children to follow your example?  If you are unfaithful in living the Christian life, is this the way you want your family to live?
     Do you say, “One of these days things will be different – I’ll make a change!”  Will it be too late for your children?  Can you ever undo years of the wrong kind of example?  “One watch set right will do to set many by; one that goes wrong may be the means of misleading a whole neighborhood; and the same may be said of example” (Delwin).  Remember, “You can preach a better sermon with your life than your lips.”