“The United States Treasury Department has a special group of people whose job it is to track down counterfeiters. Naturally, these people need to know a counterfeit bill when they see it.  How do they learn to identify fake bills? Oddly enough, they are not trained by spending hours examining counterfeit money. Rather, they study the real thing. They become so familiar with authentic bills that they can spot a counterfeit by looking at it or, often, simply by feeling it.”                               
from Be Real by Warren Wiersbe.                            
Our children study us. They watch us constantly, and model a way of living from what they observe. Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.”  Our authenticity with our children and what they glean from watching us interact with others, has everything to do with how they will interact with us and others. We can only exemplify authenticity and honesty when we are clear about who we are and are willing to share our true thoughts and feelings. It happens when our words match our actions.  Morals and values are more” caught” than “taught”. Most of what we know comes from observing and interacting with the world around us, rather than from a classroom or book. Are you giving your children the wonderful gift of seeing their parents move through life with consistency, honesty, and genuineness?

There are many benefits to being honest and authentic. *
-          Honesty walks with courage. To say what you feel, and do what you need to   do and believe to be right, moves you from fear to power.
-          Honesty is good looking!  It shows self-respect and respect for others and is very attractive and appealing.
-          Honesty creates a circle of love.  It sets an example and fosters more intimacy and authenticity in your relationships. It goes ’round and comes back.
-          Honesty creates safety. How great is it when you are with someone you can depend on to tell the truth? Whose behavior makes you know that you are free to be yourself, without worrying about being judged or who else might be told?
-          Honesty allows you to bust out! It feels great. You don’t have to expend energy tiptoeing around, or remembering what you weren’t honest about yesterday.  No deep hole to climb out of.  No fear!
-          Honesty is the foundation for strong, lasting relationships. When you begin with honesty, and everyone is allowed to be fully themselves, there is no mess to clean up later. It’s clean, with no hidden agenda or assumptions.
-          Honesty attracts honesty. You will become attractive to other honest people. A life filled with authentic people is vastly enriched.
* adapted from Williams and Thomas Total Life Coaching

Are you dependable? Do you keep your promises and avoid making excuses? Under what circumstances do you lie? (saying you have to hang up, there’s someone at the door;  telling your husband it cost 50.00 instead of 100.00) Do you take responsibility for your actions, mistakes, and faults? Do you make others’ best interests equally important to your own?

Family Night by the Book provides lessons and activities to discover God’s perspective on those questions and to promote meaningful discussion within your family. Get started today!
In a world of counterfeits, allow your children to become intimately acquainted with the real thing. Let them see it, hear it, touch it, and love it.

Create a genuine, real thing, authentic, totally YOU lifestyle!
Blessings,

Beth and Dr. Ron