Trying to be the spiritual leader my family needs

3w ago1 min read

Guys, I've been realizing lately that I can't just expect my kids to love Jesus if I'm not living it out myself. Been slacking on my own prayer life and Bible reading, then wondering why my 8 year old seems disinterested in devotions. Started getting up earlier to pray before work and it's been changing my whole perspective. My kids actually see me doing it now and my oldest asked if he could join me this morning. Feeling like I'm finally walking the walk instead of just talking about it.

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Comments(8)

CChris M.Regular2w ago

Absolutely this. My boys watch everything I do way more than they listen to what I say. I started trying to actually pray and read scripture instead of just saying I do it. Took a minute to figure out what that even looks like but the shift in how I approach things has been real.

JJosh M.Regular3w ago

The hardest part for me has been accepting that my kids will develop their own relationship with faith and it might not look exactly like mine. But yeah, they definitely watch whether I'm actually living what I believe.

CCraigNew Dad3w ago

This is hitting me hard right now. I go through the motions on Sundays but then the rest of the week I'm pretty distant from my faith. My kids definitely notice the difference between what I say matters and what I actually do.

JJamesRegular3w ago

Real talk, I struggled with this for a long time. Started small by actually praying before meals instead of just saying grace on autopilot. That one change made a difference in how my family approached faith together.

KKyleRegular2w ago

Kids can smell hypocrisy from a mile away. I started being more honest about my own doubts and struggles with faith and it opened up better conversations than when I was trying to project this perfect spiritual image.

DDerek M.New Dad3w ago

This realization changed everything for me too. I can't teach my kids to be kind if I'm impatient all the time. Can't expect them to be generous if they never see me give. It's not about being perfect but it's definitely about showing up as the person I actually want them to become.

MMatt B.Regular3w ago

The spiritual leader thing doesn't mean being perfect though. I think what actually lands is being honest about your faith journey and struggling openly sometimes. Kids respect that way more than pretending you've got it all figured out.

KKyleRegular2w ago

This is the conversation that changed my perspective. Living it matters so much more than preaching it. How are you finding time and space to actually grow spiritually yourself? That's the hard part for me with two kids.