As both a Children’s pastor and father I have learned that all children possess the great ability to imitate those around them. They’ll imitate the things they see and hear, and even imitate the things you think they haven’t seen or heard. A month or so ago, my wife posted these pictures on her blog and I wanted to revisit them.
To set the scene, the boys and I were outside in the backyard playing a game of twirl. It’s a simple game really. I grab them by their hands or ankles and twirl them until I get sick. They ask to do it again and again and again.
However, my daughter will have none of that action. She keeps a safe distance from me, and tells me over and over, “I do NOT want to do that Daddy!” I’m a good Dad, so I let her be and eventually stumble into the house trying to figure out who is more wore out, me or the boys.
When I get inside, I find Lauryn doing this:
The great power of imitation at work.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he Gave…”
When I give I am simply imitating the one that gave that great and wonderful gift. My gifts of service, money, or time don’t in any way compare to the great gift of God’s only son, Jesus; but they should be a reflection of His heart when He gave. God gave to us because he loved us. In our desire to imitate our father in heaven, we give because we love those around us, we give because we love God, and we give because he first loved us. Giving in it’s very essence is much like my daughter spinning the bear in the living room. The bear is much different that what I was doing, but in essence it is the very same thing. What a great thought that my Heavenly Father set such a great example of giving for me. As my daughter unashamedly twirls the bear in the living room, I pray and hope that I can be as great a mirror of what God has done for me.
{This is a little adaptation of something I did at Trinity Church on Sunday, April 19th.}
