Have you ever had one of those moments where your child says something so profound that you have to stop and wonder, “Wait, where did they even learn that?”
As parents, we spend a lot of time talking. We give instructions, we quote scriptures, we explain why we do what we do, and we try our best to "teach" them the right way to live. But the truth is, the most powerful lessons aren't the ones we plan out in a curriculum or a lecture. They are the ones our children "catch" when they are just watching us live our lives.
At Intentional Godly Parenting, we often say that parenting is caught, not taught. This means that while our words matter, our actions carry the real weight. Our children are like little sponges, soaking up how we handle stress, how we treat others, and: most importantly: how we prioritize our relationship with God.
Recently, something happened in my home that reminded me of this in a big way. It wasn't a "big" moment in the eyes of the world, but it was a massive moment in the eyes of my daughter.
The Exam and the Evangelism
My husband is a man who takes his responsibilities seriously. Not long ago, he had a very important exam coming up. If you’ve ever been a student or a working professional balancing certifications, you know the pressure. Every spare minute feels like it should be spent with your nose in a textbook.
That week, there was an evangelism outreach scheduled. To most people, it would have been perfectly "okay" to skip it. After all, he had a valid reason. God understands we have exams, right? We often tell ourselves that being "faithful" means doing our best in our careers and studies: and that is true! But faithfulness also means keeping God as the primary priority, even when life gets a bit hectic.
Despite the looming exam, my husband chose to go for the evangelism. He decided that his commitment to sharing the Gospel wasn't something that could be pushed aside just because he was busy. He went, he served, and he came back.
Our daughter was watching. She knew he had an exam. she knew he was busy. But she also saw him pick up his Bible and head out the door to tell people about Jesus.
When he got back, she looked at him and said something that stopped us both in our tracks:
"If you are faithful in small things, God will give you big things."
Out of the Mouth of Babes
Where did she get that? It’s a biblical principle, of course (Luke 16:10), but hearing it come from her little mouth in that specific moment was a wake-up call.
She wasn't just repeating a verse she had memorized for Sunday school. She was applying a spiritual truth to a real-life situation she had just witnessed. She saw her dad being faithful to a "small" commitment (an outreach walk) despite the pressure of a "big" thing (the exam).
In her mind, the connection was clear: Dad is putting God first, so God is going to take care of the big stuff.
This is the heart of godly parenting. It’s about showing them that God isn't just someone we talk about on Sundays; He is the center of every decision we make on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings.
Why the "Small Things" Are Actually Huge
We often think that to "model faith," we need to do something spectacular. We think we need to go on a mission trip to another country or lead a massive ministry. But for a child, "faithfulness" looks like:
- Seeing Mom pray when she’s stressed instead of yelling.
- Watching Dad choose to serve at church even when he’s tired.
- Noticing that the family gives their tithe before they buy new toys.
- Observing how we talk about people when they aren't in the room.
These are the "small things." They are the building blocks of a child’s worldview. When we are consistent in these areas, we are building a foundation of Christian parenting that can withstand the storms of life.
They Are Always Watching
It’s a bit convicting, isn't it? The idea that our kids are always watching.
They watch us when we think they are playing with their Legos. They listen to our tone of voice when we’re on the phone with a difficult relative. They notice if our "quiet time" with God is actually quiet time, or if we’re just scrolling through our phones.
If we tell them that God is the most important thing in our lives, but we constantly push prayer and service to the side the moment life gets busy, what are we actually teaching them? We are teaching them that God is a "convenience," not a "necessity."
But when they see us stick to our convictions: like my husband did with his exam: they learn that God is worth the sacrifice. They learn that faithfulness isn't about what’s easy; it’s about what’s right.
Practical Ways to Show Faithfulness at Home
If you’re wondering how to start being more intentional about these "small things," here are a few simple ideas:
- Narrate Your Faith: When you make a choice based on your faith, tell them why. You could say, "I’m really tired today, but I promised I would help Mrs. Smith with her groceries because God wants us to love our neighbors."
- Let Them See You Pray: Don't just pray behind closed doors. Let them see you taking your worries to God. As we discuss in The Sound of Faith, your children need to hear you talking to your Heavenly Father.
- Prioritize Worship: Make church and family devotions a non-negotiable. When we skip church for every sports game or social event, we send a message about what we value most.
- Handle Mistakes with Grace: When you mess up (because we all do!), show faithfulness by apologizing. Saying, "I’m sorry I lost my temper; that wasn't how God wants me to speak," is a massive lesson in integrity.
Raising Children in the Lord
Raising children in the Lord is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s made up of thousands of tiny moments where we choose to be faithful.
My husband’s choice to go for evangelism wasn't meant to be a "lesson" for our daughter, but it became one of the most effective ones she ever had. She saw that his devotion to God wasn't dependent on his schedule.
This is how we close the "discipleship gap." We bridge the space between what we say we believe and how we actually live.
A Simple Encouragement for You
Parent, you don't have to be perfect. You just have to be intentional.
You might feel like you’ve failed in the past, or like you’ve let "big things" crowd out the "small things" of faith. The good news is that God’s mercies are new every morning. Start today. Choose one small area where you can show more faithfulness this week.
Maybe it’s spending 10 minutes reading the Bible with them before bed, or maybe it’s choosing a kind word when you’re frustrated. Whatever it is, know that your children are noticing.
If you want more tools to help you on this journey, I highly recommend checking out our guide on how to Teach Faith at Home. It’s full of simple, practical ways to make God a natural part of your daily rhythm.
Remember what my daughter said: If you are faithful in small things, God will give you big things.
The "big thing" God wants to give you is the joy of seeing your children walk in the truth. And that starts with the small choices you make today.
Let’s Connect
We are all in this together! If you’re looking for a community of parents who are striving to be intentional, we’d love to have you join us. Whether you want to join Club 365 to pray for your kids or you need a Clarity Call to help navigate a specific parenting challenge, we are here for you.
Your faithfulness matters. Your kids are watching. And God is smiling.
Stay intentional,
Oluwapelumi Boluwaji
Founder/Director, Intentional Godly Parenting