8 out of 10....

That's the statistic from Back to the Bible of how many kids will turn away from their faith after leaving home. Mind boggling! That's a frightening statistic.
Parents, we can't bend. We can't expect the church or school to teach our children about a close relationship with the Lord. It has to begin in the home. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Kids are looking to their parents to set the example. They not only need to hear it, but more importantly they need to see it lived out in us. I can't begin to tell you the times that my kids have not seen it lived out in me. They've seen impatience, anger, negativism, discouragement, a sorry attitude...just to name a few. But what I have learned is to quickly apologize, asking them for forgiveness. They, more than anyone, know that they have an imperfect mom. But they've also seen a mom and dad love each other, pray together, and strive, with mistakes made along the way, to serve the Lord and please Him.
We have taught our kids from as early as they can remember, that God is ever-present, hearing everything they say, seeing everything they do, standing right beside them and loving them unconditionally.
We need to change this statistic. Our kids need to see it lived out in us, striving to please the Lord with everything we say and do. It begins with us on our knees.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.