Children of Influence

With so many children, we always made a big deal about influence in our family.  We showed the older ones many examples of how the younger ones followed after them, emphasizing the importance of every little thing we did when others' eyes are on us.  Here is a great poem I read to my children, and put with Jesse's and Daniel's picture:

There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.

There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming
of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little fellow's idol,
you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you
no suspicions ever rise.

He believes in you devoutly,
holds all you say and do;
He will say and do, in your way
when he's grown up just like you.

There's a wide-eyed little fellow
who believes you're always right;
and his eyes are always opened,
and he watches day and night.

You are setting an example
every day in all you do;
For the little boy who's waiting
to grow up to be like you.

Challenge:  Make sure your children know that they are an example, for good or bad, to others that they influence.  Embed in their hearts and minds the realization that what they do and how they behave impacts the world around them.  Accentuate occasions where they realize their impact on others was for good, and use examples to teach them when their impact on others causes them to do wrong so they take responsibility for their influence.  If you start this early, your children will learn well before they are teenagers, and when they are teens they will be able to take responsibility for wiser choices and know the effects on others as a matter of course.