Stories of the Heart: Amanda McIntyre

Teach Your Children Well

Amanda McIntyre

Behind Door #1:

Kindness. Respect. Loyalty. Empathy. Understanding. Listening. Service. Compassion. Fairness. Caring.

Behind Door #2:

Selfishness. Entitlement. Bitterness. Anger. Divisiveness Bullying. Self-importance. Mean-spirited. Uncaring.

Having grandsons, I am more reminded of what I say and how a behave around them. I try to be cognizant of what influences their fresh and fertile minds, even as I did with my own children.

Did they turn out well? I believe they did. Not without some mistakes, some rough patches along the way. But instilled in them was the very basic value of human kindness- “do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12)

You may not attend church every Sunday. You may not sit on the board of deacons, or even lead a Bible study—I leave that to the convictions of your conscience and will. And please note that in no way am  I suggesting in any fathomable way that I am perfect for God knows better! 

As I watch my grandsons and see on social media little clips of small children caring for each other, being kind, or creating solutions for problems that adults will quibble over until the cows come home. I wonder at what point—what age—does the disconnect come?

Is it a show of weakness to be kind? Does it show some lack of understanding of reality to care, to have empathy? There are those who would believe it to be so. Respectfully, I disagree, again that I leave to your own choice.

In my opinion, teaching begins at home. This is  true whether you home school, a single parent, if both parents work, or one stays at home. It’s true of foster parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. 

There was a initiative started by one of Iowa's most beloved governors back when I was growing up. It's purpose to instill the six pillars of character; trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship not only in our schools, but in our communities, businesses and our politicians.  Read More about the Robert D and Billie Ray Center here.

While experience may be the culprit of where the disconnect happens, where it might be easier to choose a different path, the truth is that it is our choice. And that choice will influence all those you meet every single day.

What will you choose, door #1, or door #2?