Welcome back! Thanks for stopping by! Today I want to talk about a few famous quotes that may or may not be “words to live by.” See what I did there?? LOL
Growing up, did your parents ever tell you to, “Do as I SAY, not as I DO”? I am sure I am not the only one who has ever heard those words… Now I am wondering what were they doing that was so different from what they were saying! We should never be able to use those words, because what we are doing should always align with what we want to teach our children to do as well. Also, what we are telling our children to do should always align with what they see us doing. That reminds me of the “Practice what you preach!” quote. No, this does not just apply to “preachers.” It applies to ANYONE who is telling someone else what to do. Broken down, it means, “Don’t tell me to do something that you are not doing yourself!” How can you lead someone to a place that you are not going? For example, I am so glad that I had become a safe driver before it was time to teach my child to drive! How could I have been trying to teach her to follow the rules of the road if I, myself, was not following them? She learned about driving by watching me! Bottom line, we need to watch what we are teaching our children instead of saying one thing and doing another.
On another note (or quote), as an adult, I began hearing the words, “Actions speak louder than words!” Today, I am thinking how much more beneficial it would be for the adults to learn this quote before they have children to teach. That would eliminate the need for “Do as I say, not as I do” because what you say won’t even matter if you are doing something different… Unfortunately, there are way too many babies having babies and they do not learn “adult” things before they start having babies! Instead, they have the mind of a child, trying to teach another child how to live. That is like “the blind leading the blind”! Hey, did you know that quote is in the bible? Check out Matthew 15:14. It tells us that if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the ditch. So, if you are a child trying to lead another child, neither of you will learn how to be an adult… That is such a sad commentary, but it is very true. Unfortunately, there are some babies having babies who think that “having babies” makes them an adult. When I heard a teenager say this, it hurt my heart to know he was so misled. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “Just say NO!” This was started to teach children to say NO to drugs, but it is just as relevant in teaching children to say NO to having sex. Once you cross that line, there is NO going back! So much goes along with it, that it is not something a child can handle. Heck, I know some adults who cannot handle it and they should still be saying NO! This is why I pray that marriage comes first. My story is a special case (or maybe it isn’t…) I had my first child as a teenager, but I was also married as a teenager, 6 weeks after I gave birth to my first child. (Wow, I just had an “aha” moment! LOL) Unfortunately, my children caught on to the teenage parent part, but somehow missed the whole marriage thing!! It is ok though! God is still in control and they are learning His ways every day!
Enough about me! I just wanted you all to think about some of the quotes you heard growing up, and some of the quotes you hear today. Which ones help you make wise decisions and which ones make you wonder why they even exist? Which ones are words to live by, and which ones should be packed away in a box, never to be heard of again?
My favorite scripture in the Bible is Philippians 4:8 and it reads: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Until we meet again, I pray blessings for your life!
Glorified Fitness Inc 