I’ve always told my daughter she is a leader. She is strong, assertive and likes things her own way.

UNTIL KINDERGARTEN.

In the seven weeks she’s been “all gown up” she’s made new friends and has picked up a few things from them. First it was bossy, aggravated words. So….we had a talk.  We memorized Proverbs 15:1 as a family~ A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Any time we spoke in this manner, whomever was aggravated quoted this verse, calmed down, and started over, addressing one another in a respectable tone. I must admit, I now know this verse by heart.

I allowed her to wear pink lipstick to school as a reminder of how God wants us to guard our mouths. We must be careful to say words that build others up, never tearing them down.

Next, it was “everyone was doing it”. She was learning to follow, not lead!! I guess I thought I was safe. She goes to Christian school. Surely the students there listen to the same music as we do and have the same standards as the church.

Totally wrong.

As hard as my husband and I are trying to instill in her christian morals, the world is there luring her away. She’s five, not fifteen! Why would you want your little girl singing “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me,” and dancing inappropriately? Are we teaching our daughters to be young ladies that respect themselves and their bodies anymore? That our bodies are the temple of Christ?

I felt disappointed….. At the parents, at the students, and at my daughter for following.

As I prayed over her, I covered her friends, her teachers, and her choices. I asked God to make her a leader instead of a follower. At that moment I realized that we’re all followers. We all follow something. Good or bad.

We may follow when others are talking about someone who’s bound up in sin, not being concerned how our words hurt them.

We may follow when our spouse says there not going to church today, and we go to the lake instead.

We may follow when we don’t have the money to spend but aren’t willing to wait, leaving our lives bound to debt.

We may follow when others are listening to music that doesn’t uplift Jesus, feeling like an outcast when we don’t know the “popular songs.”

We may follow when we settle for an immitation of marriage by just living together, or playing the role of wife.

What would happen if we decided to follow Jesus?

If every decision we made, we first asked Him…..What would YOU do?

If we loved our spouses like God instructed.

If we forgave like He forgave us.

If we wore clothing that He approved of and didn’t tempt others to lustful thoughts.

If we spoke how He spoke.

If we thought like He thought.

If we watched the movies or TV shows He would watch.

It’s my job to help my daughter know her strengths and weaknesses and use them to glorify God. To walk in His love by example, not mere instruction because just like in kindergarten, more is caught than taught.

1Corinthians 11:1~Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.