Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
When my children were very small, I learned that I could misjudge them if I attributed to them adult motives behind their actions. Children are expert at imitating what they observe in adults, but they do it without adult thoughts and motives. Children may innocently do what is sin for an adult to do. Many times over the years, I have seen children punished for the crime of accurately reflecting the attitudes and behavior they learned from the example of those who are punishing them. In fact, I believe that this injustice is the one common experience of almost all children who have adults caring for them. It is, from what I have seen, an unhappy circumstance in the lives of children that is as commonplace as the air they breathe. And I say again, when my children were small, I found myself guilty of that offense a few times.
So, before you come down too hard on your little ones, first ask your heavenly Father if He is using them to show you what He sees in you. It may be that in order to change your child’s behavior, all you have to do is change your own.