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Real Holiness for the Sake of Our Children
"Those who have to educate...must themselves be striving for some higher excellence, and must believe and care deeply for the things they teach. For no one can be educated by maxim and precept; it is the life lived and the things loved and the ideals believed in by which we tell [what is important].... If we want [to see in our children] integrity of character, steadiness, reliability, courage, thoroughness, all the harder qualities that serve as a backbone, we , at least, make others want them also, and strive for them by the power of example... not set as a deliberate good example, for that is as tame as precept; but the example of the life that is lived, and the truths that are honestly believed in."
Janet Erskine Stuart, in "The Education of Catholic Girls", Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1911, pp38
posted by Holly at 8:32 PM
1 Comments:
The notion that we teach our children all sorts of things by example is not new, of course, but what struck me most about this post was 'not setting a good example deliberately'.
This is a very subtle distinction here - it is talking about "genuinity" - about being 'real' - not about putting on a role as Mummy and 'acting' good in front of the children. It's talking about actually 'being' good - for real - even when the kids aren't around.
It's talking about living life fully and "real"ly and truly being on fire for God and good.
Kids see through 'acts' and 'images' - they know if we are truly faithful to what we say; they know if we practice what we preach; they know if we truly believe and love God; they know our faults and weaknesses, and often cash in on them too! :-)
So, if we wish to have the highest and the most genuine effect on our children, we can safely turn our hearts and thoughts and wills toward God and the holiness he calls us to as Moms - and the education of our children will follow - all quite naturally and unconsciously...
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