I went to a wedding last night. While I was there I was talking with an older couple who attends our church. Their daughter and her husband are friends of ours and he's even our family doctor. Anyway, while talking breifly with this older woman I totally and completely saw my friend in her. Does that make sense? The way she laughed, the intonation in her voice, something about her smile even was so very much like her daughter (my friend). I really started thinking about how much we become like our parents. My sister will often tell me "oh, you soooo sounded like Dad just then!"
We have such an influence on our children. They pick up even little things in our humor or how we talk and laugh. They learn EVERYTHING from us! I'm really starting to wonder what God was thinking when he intrusted my 3 children to someone as irresponsible and sinful as me.
Funny example: Every morning for the past 2 years I pour milk in two sippy cups. I pull out the yellow cup and matching lid, and the purple cup and it's lid and begin to assemble them. After pouring milk in each I decide just for fun to mix match the tops. That should be fun and silly right? Wrong! My sweet easy-going daughter flips out! No Mommy! That's wrong! It doesnt match! That one doesnt go there! I dont want that top! I want the match!
What!?! You've got to be kidding me! Who would have thought something as simple as always matching sippy cup tops would cause an (excuse my french) anal retentiveness in a 3 year old. Dear Lord, what have I done!?! I made a mental note that day to do more mix matching in the future.
I now have to remind myself that I do not want my daughter to be like me. I want her to be BETTER than me. I dont want her to start dating in 7th grade. I don't want her to french kiss for the first time in 8th grade. I want her to know God and live a life that honors him from way earlier than college! I want her to know that it's good to go against the grain, to love God and NOT wear what everyone else is wearing, NOT talk like everyone else is talking, and NOT go where everyone else is going. I dont want her to be so dependent on the acceptance of others that she gives in to peer pressure so she'll feel like the belongs. Please God, let her NOT be like me!
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What a beautiful sentiment, I was moved to teary eyes...not tears but watery nonetheless! Even being a "good" teeanger/kid I agree I want my kids to be better than me, because "God looks at the heart and not the actions.." But an area of enormous encouragement...in the old testament the generations who were rebellious were cursed I believe to the 2nd and 3rd generations....but the Parents who were righteous were blessed to the thousandth/s generation! WOW!!! What a merciful and LOVING GOD we serve. I know I do not feel righteous and yet He says..."Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness..." Thank you Lord that by our belief in YOU we are made righteous! And that by the righteousness you graciously bestow, our children can and will be blessed if they follow You!
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