Oops!

When I was a kid I always admired those “cool” kids who could whistle loudly. I made a concerted effort to learn this art and after several weeks and actually months of practice, I obtained that skill and actually got quite good at it. I can still proudly whistle a piercing whistle that can be heard from quite a distance, perhaps a mile. This weekend while babysitting with my one year old granddaughters I demonstrated this skill to them. They were delighted and responded, (as they do with everything I show them), by trying to imitate me. Since they are a little too young to actually whistle, they simply went with shrill, piercing, high-pitched screams emitted at the top of their little lungs. I would loudly whistle and they would echo with “twinly” harmonious loud screams and then they, (and I), would both laugh hysterically for several minutes. Much to the chagrin of my wife, we played this game over and over and over for quite some time.

When my son and daughter-in-law came to pick them up, the twins had a brand new skill set. By now any hint of a whistle would set them off, so I softly whistled to get them started and they responded with vigor; my son was not impressed. Apparently he likes things more quiet and peaceful around his household and two little girls screaming high pitched screams at the top of their lungs did not fit that model. Oops

Children are impressionable are they not? What if I had given them a swig of beer? Or taught them a cuss word? Or had yelled and screamed and argued with my wife in front of them? Would they be inclined to look at me with those big beautiful trusting blue eyes and think, “that looks like fun”? My son told me the other day that he hoped his children never tasted alcohol and that he did not want them to drink. Hmmmm. I remember hoping for the same thing with my children. What are the odds that if the parents drink, their children will drink? According to statistics it is overwhelming!

My son and I talked a long time about where the kids would go to school starting with kindergarten and right through higher education. We talked about how they might end up and what they might accomplish in life. I suggested that one could be the President of the United States and the other Vice President and then after eight years they could switch roles. We have high hopes for them and want the best of everything for them because we love them dearly.

If that is a true statement then we should always be cognizant of what we are teaching them through our own lives, should we not? As for my part I have started learning some new songs on the guitar. Not rock and roll, and not blues, but children’s gospel songs such as “Yes Jesus loves me”. I want to sing these songs to them and teach them the words. I have also been amassing some children’s Bible story books and soon I will begin reading them to them every time they come for a visit. I do not ever want to be the person they see doing something contrary to what God would have them do. Remember “little pictures have big ears and in their case big blue eyes too”, and they are listening and intently watching everything we, their role models, say and do and will imitate it at their first opportunity.

You know as I think about it, I realize that little children are not the only ones that are impressionable, but also my adult non-Christian friends, acquaintances, and even the compete strangers that I encounter. The Bible teaches that we should so let our “light” shine that it might be a perfect example of the joy, peace, and happiness that can be ours through living a Christian life that is righteous and centered upon our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We should live in such a manner that others would see what we have and want it. Can anyone see the difference between you and a non-believer? Do you want a trusting little innocent child to imitate your behavior?

Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from
it.