This week, we conclude the series on spiritually leading by example with an important question: “Isn’t is a humbling experience to see our own faults running around on two little legs?” Our children take on many of our own traits and follow our example. To a child, being an example of character traits in small things is as important as the big things. When the telephone rings and your child answers to find that the party on the other end wants to speak to you, what do you tell them if you do not wish to speak? Do you say, “Tell them I am not here.” But, you are there and have just involved them in telling a lie, compromising integrity and character, showing a lack of courage and giving an attitude that does not reflect the character of Christ. What would Jesus do? Would it not be best to tell your child to inform the other party that you are sorry but not available at this time to speak on the phone? Little things add up to become bigger things and one lie often leads to bigger lies.

Older children also follow our examples. I am embarrassed to tell this, but here goes. Several years ago, my wife and I were in Dallas with our two daughters and sons-in-law driving in the car. We came to a four-way stop intersection where one car was already there on my left and another car arrived simultaneously to me on the right. Another car came up behind this car much later. I yielded to the car on the left and the first car on the right. It was then my time to go, so I started into the intersection and late arriving car started to zoom into the intersection. I immediately slammed on my brakes and yelled, “You idiot.” Then, from the back seat one of my sons-in-law said, “Now, I know where your daughters learned it.”   Did I teach my daughters road rage? It wasn’t road rage, but I remembered how many times that I had used that phrase in similar instances. We must all remember that those whom we lead always look at our example, regardless of age. It can be summed up as follows: “A careful man, I want to be. A little fellow follows me. I dare not go astray, for fear he’ll go the self same way.” Jesus Christ is the example for us to follow and we will not go astray.