CHIP OFF THE OL' BLOCK

For Mother's Day we did a little shopping at the Antique Faire. I realize that I've probably missed the window of opportunity to talk about Mother's Day, so I'll tell you up front, this isn't about that. While we were shopping I noticed something really sweet. I have raised quite the antique shopper. I didn't purposely do it, but as I walked around from booth to booth, I noticed my son was holding his own with the antiques...

With his little watch and his little wallet, like he belonged there. He knew what to touch and what not to. I saw him using my technique of taking a moment to soak everything in before getting closer. He knew that sometimes you had to dig a little to find what you were looking for, it was really fun to observe him. He was even able to get the price lowered on some things, just by looking at the vendors (now that's a master negotiator!) My point is I didn't teach him any of these things, I just brought him around. I've said it before, but I'm constantly seeing the significance of the following scripture:

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

- Proverbs 22:6

I've looked up a couple of the different translations for this scripture, and did not find that any started "Tell your child..." I never sat Henry down and said "Look son, these are the strategies for Antique shopping, Step 1...." He watched me. I am left seeing the power of my actions and behavior in the eyes of my children. Not only what I do, but where I take him, what I show him...It's all part of his "training"

Ultimately I'm left reevaluating what it is I'm showing him. I have to step back and take an assessment of myself. What if he saw me loving fiercely, ("A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34) or speaking only positive about others ("Therefore encourage one another and build each other up," - 1 Thessalonians 5:11). What if he saw me run to help the hungry, the homeless, the hurting and treat them with love ( "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me....‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’" - Matthew 25: 35-40).

 

Imagine the man I could be raising, one who is not only savvy to the antique world, but who loves fiercely, who is encouraging, who pours love on those who need it. Not because I had him memorize bible scripture, but because we lived it, we carried it out, we showed him the way.