The Domino Effect...

My parents love to play dominoes!

Whenever we visit, 

You can almost be certain
that before too long
Dad will say...
"Anyone up for a game?"

Last week I cooked a turkey

And we took it down to share 

with my parents.

Of course, after dinner,

you know what Dad wanted to do!

Seems like I always get chosen to keep score!

 

 

While we played dominoes,

my sons decided that 

Gram and Gramp needed 

some more wood brought in

for the woodstove...

 

"My boys," dad said,

"They're the best!"

My husband made a comment

that, yes indeed,

we had been blessed 

with 3 very special sons. 

"Yes, I agree," Dad said,
"But the example you show
by the life you lead is 
the reason they are 
the way they are!"

We both smiled,
realizing that grandfathers
can be somewhat partial
to grandchildren...
and simply said, "Thank you."

But I continued to think about this
as we played on.

Have you ever had the pleasure
of lining up a whole row of
dominoes...
And then pushing the first one
over and watching the rest fall?

The Domino Effect...

And it suddenly hit me...
Everything we do and say,
Our children are watching.
We lead by example.

And if we fall...
So do our children.

They will be affected,
be it good or bad,
by every decision we make in life.

An awesome responsibility...
One to never be taken lightly...
For we have Someone that
we must answer to...
When all is said and done.

And raising children...
Is by no means a game.

"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 And these words, which I command thee this day, 

shall be in thine heart:

 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, 

and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, 

and when thou walkest by the way, 

and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

Deuteronomy 6: 5-7