Does Your Mirror Need Some Cleaning?

"I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. Even so I do not leave sin unpunished, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:7

How easily we forget about those little eyes that watch our every move, how easily we forget about those little ears that hear everything we say and how easily we forget how our sins can affect the very hearts and lives of our children.

God has given us these precious gifts not for our pleasure but for His. We are not to hinder, enable, mistreat, or cause them to stumble. And we should never assume that it is just the obvious sins like addictions, abuse, and adultery that will and can affect them. It even includes selfishness, greed, jealousy, lust, hate, pride, self-pity, etc.

What do you think would happen if we as parents actually stopped and asked ourselves how these choices, words, and actions would affect them? And I don’t mean just run it through your head and make excuses or justifications for why it would be okay. I mean actually think about it from God’s perspective, black and white, right or wrong and then not do it if you know it will steer them away from God. Could you imagine how different things would be?

We are the mirror our children look into for knowledge, wisdom, example, everything. So as that mirror what are we reflecting back, Christ and His word or the world and self?

Don’t be afraid to let your children see you confess your sins, show them what repentance looks like and let them see how merciful, loving and forgiving their Creator is.

Remember that just because your sin might have only caused you little pain, it could cause even greater pain later in the life of your child.

Prayer: Lord help us as parents become the type of mirror that only and always reflects You.