Christian parents long to instill the same principles and values in their children that their own parents passed on to them. But Christian character doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, it takes a lot of intentional work.

Parents may pass on physical traits like height and hair color. But there’s no gene for “good character.” And in most cases, character traits are “caught,” not “taught.”

So if you want your children to be compassionate, model it yourself. If you want them to be truthful, always tell the truth. And if you want them to be respectful, start by showing respect first.

As parents, it’s our job to be the ones out front leading the charge. And if you believe your family is lacking important values, start with the only person you can readily change—yourself.

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