4.6 Parents are to set the example

Children should learn and inherit the tradition of loving each other from their parents. However, there were no parents who could teach their children the true way of how to love each other as brothers and sisters. Teach your children the way of filial piety centering on True Parents. In the Unification Church, your children should learn about the relationship between my family and your families, between you and me, and know your heart towards me. Children naturally learn the heart of parents.
Your children must be in a position to say, "Our parents have the ability to work for God's Will under any circumstances. They can overcome time constraints, the environment and poverty." Your children ought to be able to trust you. Establish the tradition in your family that your children will do whatever you ask them. They will say it is the way set by their parents and the way they will go. Please set the standard of educating your descendants. (30-87, 03/17/1970)

When teaching about God, first be exemplary as filial children in following God's law, thereby setting the heavenly tradition of filial piety.
Teach your children loyalty to God's Will in realizing the heavenly nation. If they cry for Korea, tell them that Korea is not their true homeland, that they are actually stateless and that they must find their own true homeland someday. Teach the truth with tears, thus expanding the scope of parental education. (30-113, 03/17/1970)

Make your children people who live for the sake of their nation rather than just for the sake of their church. True parents raise their children by the power of their own living example. Teach your children on the basis of love. If you live such a life, God can never leave you and you will exude an uncanny mystique that will naturally draw people to you. (34-31, 08/29/1970)

You may not be perfect in everything but at least you can be correct in your basic attitude. This attitude of love is what you will leave to your children when you die. This tradition will be passed down within your family from one generation to the next. You can tell your children that this message is the most precious thing you could give them. Show them that they too are to embody this tradition and bequeath it in turn to their children. When you practice this truth, the entire universe will open up for you. God and the whole spirit world will rejoice with you. When you live this truth, you will have nothing to be ashamed of before the greatest men and women in history; you can love God and humankind more intensely than anyone ever has. (125-106, 03/13/1983)

Husbands: do not be dishonorable before your wives. They are God's emissaries. So too are your children. They were sent to watch and guide you as closely as possible to the right path. Fathers: do not be dishonorable before your children. Do not feed God's emissaries with stolen money.
Can you serve God by cheating others? Can you serve your own ancestors that way? If you live dishonorably, your ancestors in the other world will judge you as soon as you go there. God will not judge you. Your ancestors will judge you and haul you before the worldwide court of justice. If they do not, then they are no good. It is terribly serious when we contemplate having to build the future foundation of hope conforming to heavenly law within our lifetime. (163-34, 04/18/1987)

What should parents do? What should they be teaching their children? True teachers are those who teach love above academic knowledge.
Parents are, of course, related to their children by blood; yet they should be able to teach them, based on love, how to behave as brothers and sisters, as husband and wife and as relatives, making peace in every way. Raise them lovingly to become the owners of love, thus fulfilling your parental responsibility. (198-63, 01/21/1990)

Exemplify conjugal love. Children will say among themselves, "Dad and Mom are so happy together. I want to get married soon and live like them too." They will see it with their own eyes and catch on. Mothers and fathers have to educate their children; it's really up to the parents. (260-297, 05/19/1994)

Teach your children about me. Tell them of the historic suffering course I underwent, and also let them know that showers of blessing will pour over your family when you support my work. (283-80, 04/08/1997)

Parents share their life with their children. Children, having received from their parents, must somehow reciprocate their love. Once parents and children attain oneness, no distinction exists between them. With complete unity, everything is perfected. There is no need to discuss sainthood and the like before God. Create perfect unity founded on love. (301-120, 04/25/1999)