The young first year High School teacher eagerly awaited her first “Back to School Night” where she would finally get to meet the parents of her very first students. She made sure her classroom was just right and her dress was perfect. She wanted to make a great first impression. One by one as the parents came into her classroom, one by one the pieces started to fall into place. Every question she had about each student in her class was answered after the brief encounters she had with their parents. Her students mirrored their parents. The apple truly did not fall far from the tree. Astonishing! How could that be? Sure enough as the year went on and more interactions were had, it showed her just how much influence a home, good or bad, can have on a child.

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV

God calls us to be like Him. We are his children and He expects us to bring honor and not shame to His name. We are to act in a manner that mirrors and honors our Father in Heaven.

Today we hope to instill that kind of respect and honor in our children when it comes to our family name. I often tell Jacob “An O’Sullivan does things this way.” Or, “We O’Sullivans don’t do things like that.” In today’s world people are more concerned with raising children who win the most competitions and get the highest grades than they are with true family honor. However, in keeping with that idea, when a child makes great grades or wins a competition, who is the first to exclaim, “That’s my child!” We want our children to imitate us on the good stuff and look the other way on the bad stuff. Sadly, they tend to pick up our bad habits more than our good ones. “Do as I say, not as I do.” Parent teacher conference day is the most enlightening day for most teachers. If you are a teacher you know what I am thing about. About 90% of the time when a teacher meets the parents it explains pretty much all the good and the bad in respect to the in-class behavior of the student. I want to be known by the way I imitate my Dad. And guess what, he’s perfect. He says “Do what I say, and do what I do.” It’s that simple. There are no mixed signals. What an honor to be part of the family I am in. I want to make Him proud. I want him to say “That’s My child!”