Teaching Your Child to Walk Your Talk

On Friday, I went to visit my daughter in college. Actually, it wasn't a formal visit. Her step-dad and I went there to bring her computer home in advance of her returning home next week for Christmas break.

One of the things I immediately noticed was her snack ration was seriously depleted. Since the beginning of the school year (August), we have spent a few hundred dollars in keeping her supplied with lots of goodies for her late night munchies and those days when the cafeteria food "sucks" as she says.

When I inquired about where her supply was, she told me she had been sharing her food with others in her dorm. Of course, my first reaction was, "Why are you sharing YOUR stuff? These kids have parents! Don't they send them anything? What makes you think it's your responsibility to feed everyone else? Besides, they have a meal plan--just like you!"

My daughter, very calmly said, "Mom, I don't see what you're getting so bent out of shape about. Haven't you been teaching me all of my life to share? I thought I was doing a good thing. I feel blessed to be in a position to share with others who are a little less fortunate."

OK...this was MY DAUGHTER talking. This is the same "only child" who cried when we gave her leftover food to a homeless man while we were on vacation---food, we knew she would never eat. This is the same person who had a job (in high school) but preferred you spend your money on her.

But then I got to thinking: I spent 18 years doing my best to "train up a child in the way that she should go..." (Proverbs 22:6) and many times I thought I was just talking to myself. But lo and behold, she was listening.

Is your child walking your talk? The better question might be: Are you saying anything worth listening to?