I believe it is very important that parents periodically evaluate their convictions. What do we believe is right for the family, and what do we believe is wrong? What is right for our children and what is wrong for them? What does the Bible say is proper behavior, and what is behavior that contradicts God's standards?

The average woman probably has no idea how tremendously influential and motivating she can be if she has deep convictions. The Old Testament speaks of a "virtuous" woman. It says that when you find a woman like that, you have found a woman more precious than jewels. In the Hebrew language, a "virtuous" woman was one who had strong convictions.

If a woman believes it is very important for children to learn communication skills, for example, she will tend to spend time gathering information on how to teach such skills to her children. She will be alert to anything that will help her attain her goal. Her conviction that it's important for her children to know these skills greatly increases the likelihood that they will learn them.

This is a major reason why children learn from their parents nonverbally. When parents approve of what their children are doing, they get excited, and it shows in their eyes, their facial expressions, and their nonverbal actions. Our children understand this nonverbal communication, and they tend to get excited, too. When we are displeased, we display negative facial reactions such as frowning and tightening our lip muscles.

Nonverbal communication can be a very motivating factor for children because they are alert to facial expressions and body language. The stronger our convictions, the more our nonverbal language will communicate those convictions.

How many people have had a lasting influence on your life? Think about it. They probably were people with strong convictions. The same is true for us. The stronger our convictions, the greater our influence on the people around us.

When talking with some of the Dallas Cowboys football players, I have learned that former Coach Tom Landry had very strong convictions about how to play football. He had his ideas about how to prepare the offense and defense. The players say they could feel his convictions. Even the television and audience could sense his seriousness as the camera scanned the sidelines on Sunday afternoons.

© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center

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