Did any of you ever hear the words, “Don’t do as I do, do as I say!” What a dumb statement!  The other day my colleague Pastor Carron Kuns made the statement to me, “We ask kids to do things we won’t even do.” I began to think about that statement and realized how true it is.

Let me give you a few examples:

At our church we start with an announcement time, this time is casual, but still in the sanctuary and part of the Sabbath morning activities. For this time it takes a lot to get the ADULTS to settle down and pay attention, they love to gab (which I have to say I have been in churches where no one talks to each other, so I would rather have our problem). Here is the thing though, I was taught as a kid and I see most adults at least that I am around still teaching their kids. When someone else is speaking, whether it be in a small gathering or a large gathering with someone up front, the kids are expected to be quiet and listening. We ask the kids to do it, but we don’t do it very well ourselves.

Here is one I really struggle with. Looking at folk 100% of the time in the eye when I am talking to them. Today, I said to Dayton (my almost 3 year old) two times, “Dayton look at them when you answer.” We ask kids to do it, but we don’t do it very well ourselves.

Another one is that I see a lot of parents encouraging their kids to be friendly, to make friends with other children. I am around young parents all the time and I hear this statement constantly, “Go say ‘hello’. Be nice. Tell them what your name is.” We love to encourage our kids to make small talk and to try and develop friendships or at least acquaintances. Very few adults will randomly introduce themselves to a stranger on the kids playground, but we encourage our kids to. We ask kids to do it, but we don’t do it very well ourselves.

Some others. “You need your sleep.” “Don’t eat that, it’s not good for you.” “Say please.” “Smile.” Respect your parents. “You’ll never know if you can do it ’till you try.”

We ask kids to do it, but we don’t do it very well ourselves!

What are some other things you could think of?