11 RIGHT BEHAVIOR REFLECTS RIGHT ATTITUDE.

How do you assess your child’s attitudes? What they say doesn’t always reflect what’s in their hearts. You ultimately know a child’s attitude by behavior, not words.

Watch both their overt behaviors and their non-verbal communications. Note the following:

•     Facial expressions

•     Eye contact

•     Body language—movement and position of hands and legs, gestures, etc.

•     Tone of voice

•     Touch or lack of touch

Describe behavior back to your child. When a child is acting inappropriately, let them watch their behavior in a mirror. Children need to learn to see themselves as others see them.

The goal of right behavior is servanthood. We live to serve God and others for His name’s sake. Serving—obedient and giving behavior—reflects a serving attitude. Talk is cheap. Actions speak far louder than words.

Jesus’ parable of the two sons really summarizes this truth:

A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ “He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first” (Matthew 21:28–31).