A couple of years ago, as we were leaving our church building one Sunday afternoon, I found myself singing the chorus to the song that was sung for us in Sunday School that morning ~ "O may all who come behind us find us faithful, may the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey. O may all who come behind us find us faithful."

As I was singing these words, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would be remembered by those that are quickly coming up behind me.

Would I be remembered for the good that I think that I do? Would my daughters look back on my life and remember the times that I stood for what was right, fought for marriages, and loved motherhood? Would they remember the many hours that I spent teaching them God’s Word and training them to be keepers at home? What about the sacrifices that I have made on their behalf? Would they remember the times that I drove them where they needed to go, listened to them when they needed to talk, and cared for them when they needed some help? Would my girls look back on all the good things that I think that I have done, and find me faithful because of them?

I wondered.

And the more I wondered, the more I began to think that, yes, I would be found faithful by my two girls that are quickly coming up behind me. And just as I was resting peacefully in this thought, reality signaled me from the back seat of our car . . .

"Mom, why are you always late for family devotions?" my oldest questioned.

"Leave her alone," my husband defended, "Mom can sleep in if she wants to."

Then the other one stared. "Mom, are you going to eat the whole bag of Doritos that you just bought? I thought that you were trying to lose some weight?"

"Leave her alone," my husband again defended, "your Mom can eat those if she wants to. And it is none of your business if she gets fat."

I couldn’t believe my ears! Not only was I not being remembered as a good testimony by my girls, but my husband felt like he had to defend me for it! How humiliating. Needless to say, I spent the rest of the ride home thinking about anything but my faithful testimony.

Have you ever struggled to be a good example to those that are watching you? Have you ever eaten too much, exercised too little, or slept in too long? Has your family ever been fed "nothing" for dinner, TV shows for entertainment, or griping and complaining for conversation? Have you ever neglected to keep your word, ran around when you should’ve been home, or totally forgot the very thing your husband asked you to do? Have you ever been too worn out to care?

I know that I have. There have been many times (over the years), that I have been overwhelmed by our moves, exhausted from personal problems, weakened by physical illness, or saddened by sorrow, that I have asked myself if being a good example was really worth the effort . . . and my answer always come right after I witness the impact of my testimony on my dear children’s behavior.

"Mom, " I usually hear one of them say during these times, "Can we sleep in too? After all, you aren’t the only one that is tired." "Mom, can we eat the rest of the cookies too? After all, we are hungry too, and who cares if we gain a little bit of weight." "Mom, can we clean up our mess later too? After all, we are busy and have other things to do too." And the list goes on, as my poor example they do follow.

If I have learned anything over the past twenty years of being a mother, it is this ~ children copy what they see. If they see us eat right, exercise regularly, and wake up on time ~ they will usually eat right, exercise regularly and wake up on time. If they see us obey our husbands, be kind to our neighbors, and pray for others ~ they will most likely obey our husbands, be kind to our neighbors, and pray for others. And if they see us waste our days by lying around, eating too much, and doing too little ~ unfortunately, they too will usually want to spend their days laying around, eating too much and doing too little as well.

If you don’t believe me, just asking King Solomon. Although he was considered to be the wisest man that ever lived, he managed to raise one of the most foolish boys that ever breathed. What was the reason for this? Was it because he didn’t spend time teaching him? Was it because he didn’t provide for him? Was it because he neglected him or didn’t love him? I don’t think so. According to the Bible, Solomon did a very good job of loving him, caring for him, and teaching him. But the problem rested in the fact that Solomon was more theory that practice, and at the end of all of this talking, Rehoboam decided to follow how his father lived, rather than pattern his life after what he said.

Oh, dear friend, we too have children that are watching everything that we do. They see us when we are sleeping. They know when we are awake. They know when we have been bad or good . . . so let’s be good for their own testimonies sake!

I’d rather see a sermon . . . then hear one any day.
I’d rather you would walk with me, than merely tell the way!
The eye’s a better pupil, and more convincing than the ear.
Your words may be confusing, but example’s always clear!
I’d rather learn my lessons by observing how it’s done,
Conversation might be easy, but your tongue too fast may run!
I may not fully understand the fine advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act or how you live!

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