Imitation

It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery.  If that is true, Mark must feel very flattered. From our boys’ earliest moments, they have looked to him to know what to be.

Samuel looking at his Daddy

They have often wanted to dress like him…

…whether it is in clothes that just match his….

Little Nathaniel in Mark's clothes

…or actually wearing Mark’s clothing.

The boys with their cousin Chelsea

Samuel in Dad's hat

As they have gotten older, they have mostly stopped the mimicry and turned to more learning to do things from their dear old dad.

Nathaniel learning to tie his own tie

Benjamin learning to grill on his own

Samuel and Mark before a "vermin hunt"

As flattering as it is to be imitated by our kids, we parents have to be careful.  Just who is it that we are imitating? Are we chameleons who blend in with whatever crowd we happen to be a part of? Do we try to act like the people we admire? Do we do the latest things celebrities are doing? Or can we, like the Apostle Paul, say, ” Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:11)

Wow. We as parents have a tremendous responsibility to point our children in the right direction.  Are we doing that? Do our children grow in holiness by imitating our actions, or do they become more worldly the more they act like us? It is something all Christian parents need to ask ourselves.