Mini me

"For as you return to the Lord, your kindred and your children will find compassion . . . and return . . . For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him." -- 2 Chronicles 29:9

When my daughter was 2, she started filling huge bags and purses with things. Every time we left the house, she would insist on taking one with her. Like many little kid behaviors, it was both charming and irritating. Charming because she was clearly doing something which such purpose and intent. Irritating because we often had to wait for her to get her bag before we could leave the house.

One morning as we were running late and yet still waiting for my daughter to lug her huge bag to the car, my husband fumed: "Why does she do that??"

It set me to wondering . . . and then I realized: both my husband and I packed a huge bag of stuff everywhere we went - books, calendars, computers, kid stuff, etc. Of course she would think that was just what she should do, too!

Our kids watch us even when we're not watching ourselves. They are aware of not only our actions, but also our attitudes. What do we want them to pick up from us? What do we want them to see, to know, to mimic?

Today's Scripture reading reminds us that our family and kids will follow where we lead. If we're going to God (even if we haven't gone to Him in a while), they'll see that, and they'll follow.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+