Wednesday, March 10, 2010

People are Watching You

It's amazing how much our children are watching us and how much they imitate the things we do.

One of the things we do as a family is pray before we go on a trip. We even pray for and with others, who have stayed with us, before they leave to travel back home. I never realized what kind of impact that had on my children until yesterday.

Our oldest daughter (4yrs old) was in the back yard playing with a friend. They were pretending that the friend was visiting my daughter at her "house"(The back corner of the yard). After they visited a while, the friend said that it was time for her to go back to her "house" (Another corner of the yard). Before she left my daughter said, "Can I pray for you?" and then she bowed her head and thanked God for her friend and prayed that God would protect her as she traveled back home.

It is only natural for children to imitate their parents. And it should be natural for Christians, children of God, to imitate Him as well. In Ephesians 5:1 we are told to "...be imitators of God, as beloved children."

Matthew 5:14-16 says, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  (NASB)

The truth is, people are watching!

3 comments:

Kevin Starner said...

That is such a sweet story. Kaden, my son, is only 10 months old and he already watches the things we do and say intently and tries to mimic us whenever he can.

This is a great example of why we must come to God like a child. As a child you desire so strongly to be "just like daddy." But as we grow older, we many times desire more to rebel. We need to have that child-like faith in our Father God that trusts without question, follows without concern for where we are going, and has a heart-felt desire to please The Father.

CJ said...

Beautiful. And so true about people/children watching.

Becky said...

I left a comment yesterday but I don't see it here. I may not be doing this right. Anyway ... I loved the illustration. Isn't it amazing how much we are watched. Good reminder for us to be imitating the Father.