163. The Witness
Robert Coles, a writer I admire a great deal, wrote a book called “The Moral Intelligence of Children—How to Raise a Moral Child.” In that book he writes: “The child is a witness, the child is an ever-attentive witness of grown-up morality—or lack thereof.”
I think it’s an important thing for me to remember—that many times there may be a child watching. And that child watches what I do, what I don’t do, how I speak, what I say, when I speak up, when I am silent.
Now I’m not talking about perfection. I’m talking (or writing) about being real and at the same time operating with a moral sense. I always wanted my children to know that I would try to do the right thing, but I also wanted them to know when I had to struggle to do the right thing—because I was human (and still am).
And it doesn’t have to only be a child—it can be a young person—a 25-year-old who may seem to not be paying any attention at all, but I believe is often checking out the adults to see where the inconsistencies are and where the strengths are.
So live it true. Live it honest. Live it real. Because someone is watching.
