More Caught than Taught
Many lessons are better caught than taught. We are called to “instruct” our kids in the things of the Lord. There are times that we need to sit down with kids, ranging from toddler age all the way up to teenagers, and TEACH them. We teach about life, money, relationships, work, the world, sex, and most of all, about God. Parents are the primary disciplers of kids, and teaching is a big part of that!
But what lessons are your kids CATCHING from you? I remember when I was in middle school, I woke up early one morning before my alarm. I wandered out into the living room. And what did I find? My dad, sitting on the couch, reading his Bible. I CAUGHT an important lesson that morning: Reading the Bible is important. If my 40 year old dad needed the word of God, I knew as a young teenager that I needed it too. He didn’t have to sit down and give me a lecture on why Bible reading is important. He proved it by his life. I caught it by his example. Grandparents, you can be especially valuable in teaching grandkids by example too.
1 John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Our deeds and actions will often pass on more lessons to our kids than our words. Our deeds show our love. Think about your deeds with your kids. What they observing in you? What tone of voice do you use with them? Do they CATCH love from you? Do they CATCH lessons that match the words you are teaching them?
Jesus was the master of setting the example and teaching. He was never a hypocrite. His actions matched his words. May we strive to do the same through His power as we instruct our kids!