Through the Eyes of a Child

This morning, while sitting at the kitchen table I began to read Proverbs chapter fifteen. My mind began to flood with thoughts of what I needed to do, the people I needed to email, and bills that I needed to pay. Keeping my mind focused on what I was reading proved difficult. To top it off, sitting on front of me was a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal. Not just that plain old oatmeal, this was oatmeal that had a tablespoon of brown sugar, a drizzle of fresh honey, some bananas, and a tablespoon of peanut butter. Now that’s the way to eat oatmeal!

Between thoughts, I began to sense that someone was staring at me. It wasn’t the eerie feeling you get when walking alone down the street, or after watching some scary movie. No, this was the kind of feeling that you just knew there were little eyes watching your every move. I looked to my left and sure enough, my 17-month-old son was sitting in his highchair watching me with a puzzling intensity. When he noticed I was looking at him, he began to smile and offer me one of his Cheerios that I had poured on his tray. More and more, I have been noticing his big blue eyes watching my every move. He has even begun to copy me when he sees me do something. It’s challenging to think how much this little guy wants to be like his dad.

How I pray that I can set a good example for him; an example of a love for God, and one that will, by faith, obey the Lord’s leading. I want to exemplify a love for his mom and treat her with love and respect. I also want to set an example on how to be honest and trustworthy, and how to work hard and be a man of principle. There are so many poor examples that he could end up following, but it is my prayer that I could teach my son the right way. With these little eyes watching my every move, this is a full-time job.

However, my mind began to think about how this little boy wants to be like his dad. I began to sense a feeling of conviction. The Lord impressed upon my heart the question, why am I not trying to be more like my Father? As I pondered that question, I could not come up with a good answer. I began to ask the Lord to help me be more like Him and to follow the example He gave us.

In John 14:9, Jesus said that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father. Jesus set for us the perfect example of the Heavenly Father. He demonstrated to us who God the Father is, and His plan for us. Oh that I would so intently look at the Lord Jesus and strive to follow His example.

Ephesians 5:1 tells us, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;” This verse takes on a whole new meaning when I think of how my son tries to copy everything I do. As a child, I want to follow God’s example of love (John 3:16), His example of sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:9), His example of service and humility (John 13:5), and finally His example of obedience (Philippians 2:8).

It’s my prayer that I can be that example for my son to follow. I know that I won’t always be the best example. I will have to work at it everyday. However, Jesus is the perfect example. If only I could have the eyes of a child. Eyes that watch their Father so intently and desire to be just like Him. It’s my prayer that this child of God would truly desire to be more like His Heavenly Father each and every day.