I was talking with a 10-year-old girl recently, and I asked her what frustrates her most about her parents. She said, “I really hate it when my mom embarrasses me in front of everybody, then laughs about it, rather than apologizes. And then, she gets upset with me when I embarrass her.” The words “Do as I say, not as I do” come to mind. Is it right? Of course not. While there are a lot of us parents who enjoy laughing, we shouldn’t do it at the expense of our kids. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up” (ESV). Is our talk or actions building up or tearing down? As Christians, we need to be an example, not a problem.

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Suggested Reading: Ephesians 4:29