Some of us are auditory learners, some visual, but all of us learn by doing. Children are champions at this. They find out about gravity by jumping off the top bunk, about swimming by wading into water over their heads, about cooking by burning themselves on the pan handle, about cleaning by spraying Windex in their eyes, and about flying by leaping off the garage roof.
They also learn by watching us. Whatever we’re doing, they want to do it too, which forces us to screen our behavior through a values-filter. Our firstborn, Nelson, was willing to follow any example.
One warm day I pulled the hose out for his playtime, and our litter of 8 puppies came running. As the driveway puddled with water, they began lapping it up, and I went for my camera. When I returned, though, instead of pix of puppies drinking, I caught this:
Nelson simply watched and then modeled what he’d seen.
More than once I’ve heard a pastor tell his congregation, “All of you are being watched by somebody, so be careful how you act.” Parents feel the burden of this, which is one reason why having children is good for us. We’re forced to clean up our acts.
But kids aren’t the only ones watching. When I was a child we sang this little Sunday school ditty:
- Be careful little hands what you do.
- Be careful little hands what you do;
- For the Father up above is looking down in love,
- So be careful little hands what you do.
That third line is the kicker. Our modeling before others matters, partly because they might copy us, but more importantly because God is watching. Although he doesn’t watch in order to follow our example (yikes!), he does want us to know he’s watching, and Scripture says so. The question then is, does knowing he’s watching make us clean up our acts?
The “Be Careful” chorus has 3 more verses:
- Be careful little eyes what you see… etc.
- Be careful little ears what you hear… etc.
- Be careful little feet where you go… etc.
So, what does it mean to be careful?
Like the song says, we ought not to touch, look, listen, or go, before looking at our Father to see what he’s modeling for us. What example-to-follow is he giving us in each particular situation? The answer is found in the life of Jesus, our perfect model. If we copy him, then our children and others can watch us and imitate what they see, and it’ll work out well.
May we study Jesus and walk in his way, so that when God looks at us, he’ll be pleased with what he sees. I’m not sure where he stands on drinking off a driveway, but it’s probably ok to set that one aside.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
I so love this example and especially because it was Nelson. Seems to me that he is still following an example and that is Christ as he serves and teaches others! You so bless me each day. Have a blessed Wednesday!
Thank God, for photographs and the written word. Both help to refresh our memories, and still teach us, today. I just had a flashback regarding my oldest child… Doug, now 48. At 2, I found him sitting under a standing bull, “checking” out certain things. In panic, I called the neighbor farmer, and the docile Daddy (bull) caused no harm; he just stood frozen, while he looked at Doug. Doug had previously watch the Vet do a physical, in the barn. Have a warm, and memorable day, Margaret!
Hi Margaret,
I often thought about Paul’s words in the verse you shared, thinking how in the world did anyone think they qualified to be exemplified and was Paul so Christlike that such following was possible? Kind of discouraging in that light. But it occurred to me as I was reading it again, that Paul was like, only follow in me what is Christlike, which may only be a thimble full of my life, but that is the only worthy part to follow, and be gracious with the rest.
We tend to glory in our strength, but the Lord wants us to glory in our weakness, that the earthen vessel only boasts in the power of Christ within. When I reflect back on 18 years of parenting and allow Satan to drown me in “woulda, shoulda, coulda”, what I really need to pass on and exemplify is that the only good in me is Christ.
Much love,
Terry
THANK YOU, TERRY, FOR YOUR WISE AND TRUE WORDS STRESSING THAT THE ONLY GOOD IN US IS CHRIST. IT MAKES ME THINK OF “HOW GOOD AND PLEASANT IT IS WHEN BROTHERS “LIVE” TOGETHER IN UNITY”…”PSALMS 133…WE ‘LIVE” TOGETHER IN THE SHARING OF GOD’S WORD.
Hi Margaret, I feel like I know you, I have bought your devotional and an am reading it every day. I feel so close to you and your beloved Nate. I gave up my John to heaven and Jesus ,March, 5, 2012. after 37 years of being loved unconditionally by a man who always put my needs before his own. I read Miriam Neff’s book, From One Widow To Another, also the book Widow for a Season, there are so many good resources for us widows to gain strength and wisdom and look forward to what the Lord has for us. Thank you so much for sharing your heart, I love reading the devotional every night before bed, sometimes I tear up, feeling your hurts, as I identify with those feelings in my own life. I am passing all these books to widows I meet and it seems like many are crossing my path. my hope is to love and encourage. I came across this saying, it is my new mantra, a quote by Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” That sums it up for me, I am thankful for the love I enjoyed for so long, choosing not to be ungrateful and mad at God because it ended.