| "Mind your manners," you may have heard the phrase | | | | to you this day, so that you may command your |
| uttered from you mother or grandmother a million | | | | children to obey carefully all the words of this law. |
| times, but is it something that we as a society use | | | | They are not just idle words for you-they are your life. |
| today with our children? Manners seems to have gone | | | | By them you will live long in the land you are crossing |
| by the way side much like other concepts that were | | | | the Jordan to possess." Deuteronomy 32:46-47 |
| so often used by those who have gone on before us. | | | | This is living by the book, God's Word, following his |
| We must get back to the basics of life and what is | | | | laws and precepts and teaching our children to do the |
| really important in life, especially back to our Biblical | | | | same. As we often say to others, "it begins at home". |
| roots. The Bible teaches many of "life's basics" one of | | | | We must being by teaching our children the basic |
| which is manners. Surprised? Don't be, God has a plan | | | | manners of "please" and "thank you" and expand into |
| for every aspect of our lives, including manners. They | | | | more social concepts such as, dining etiquette and |
| after all were his idea in the first place. He set it forth | | | | social introductions. |
| beginning with the Golden Rule beginning in Matthew | | | | What is in your heart comes out in your actions. We |
| 7:12, "Do to others what you would have them do to | | | | have Jesus in our hearts and we want to show others |
| you." | | | | him by our actions. This is where manners can be of |
| God also set forth instructions for us as parents about | | | | much importance. However, not only does this learning |
| how we are to train our children, these scriptures | | | | of manners do wonders for other people who are |
| include Proverbs 22:6, which says, "Train a child in the | | | | around your child, but also for their own self esteem |
| way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn | | | | and confidence as well. After all, with Christ in our |
| from it." We must do our part as parents and then | | | | childrens' hearts and lives they can have all the |
| leave the rest to God. However our part comes first. | | | | confidence they need and when they present |
| He commanded us in Deuteronomy that we were to | | | | themselves as Godly and respectful individuals to |
| model the actions that we wanted our child to have. | | | | others they can shine brightly. What mother wouldn't |
| "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared | | | | be proud of that? |