Copycat

We had just pulled out of the car wash, when my four-year old, Jack, disappointingly exclaimed, “they missed a spot!” Apparently the guy who hand-dried the car with towels after going through the automatic wash did not meet Jack’s expectations. Chip off the old block, I thought to myself, as I could recall my husband saying something similar since he is quite particular about how he keeps his vehicles.

This experience of my son imitating his Dad is not an isolated one. In fact, it is quite common. Recently, while I was playing toy cars with Jack, he said “Mom, do you think we should get a wipe and clean the wheels on the cars so they look brand new?” Yet again, he is proving that he has learned from his Dad the importance of keeping a clean car.  Jack has even remarked to me after riding around in my car, “Mom, I really need to clean this Jeep again!” And he’ll proceed to get out the dust-buster and vacuum the floor mats in my car, just happily as can be.

His love of cars and desire to maintain them well is not the only passion that Jack has gleaned from his Dad. He also enjoys putting on a splash of aftershave, spiking up his hair with gel just like Dad, and even his response to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is “a Daddy.” The love and admiration that Jack has for his Dad is palpable and so precious. Every now and then, I also get a glimpse that Jack might occasionally imitate me as well… “Let’s make a list, mom!” he declared one day as we were talking about the tasks that lay ahead.

Whether we want it or not, our kids imitate us as parents, especially in the younger years. For good and for bad, they will pick up on our habits, preferences, passions, and mannerisms, and they will naturally repeat it. While it can occur consciously or unconsciously, even we as adults mimic what surrounds us.

The Bible is clear about who we are to imitate. “I urge you then, be imitators of me,” Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:16. Again in 11:1 he relates, “be imitators of me, therefore as I am of Christ.” Ephesians 5:1 even relates imitation to children—“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Pondering these simple verses makes me examine my own life. If my children are imitating me, what behaviors will they bear? What do they see in me beyond just being a list-maker?! Am I imitating Christ? Am I bearing the fruit of the Spirit and showing them love, peace, patience, kindness, self-control? Am I setting an example that points them to the One who they should mimic above all else? I pray that despite my failings and faults, my children will see Christ in me. And all glory goes to God, when the sweet moments come and He is seen in us.

Just the other night while our family was out in the backyard roasting marshmallows over a fire, Jack noticed our next door neighbor outside and said “Hey Dad, should we ask Andy to come over and have a marshmallow with us?” Thank you Lord, for Jack bearing Christ’s love by welcoming our neighbor and sharing with him—just like his Dad would.