One of the scary and powerful things about being a parent is knowing that, whether you like it or not, you are always modeling for your children. They watch you. They do what you do, not necessarily what you say. To some extent, they learn to think about things the way you do...as they mature, they may decide to discard those mental patterns, but I think they absorb them automatically as children.
At the moment, I am sitting at this well-fingered keyboard and glancing through the windows of the French doors that divide the living room (where I am) from the family room (which could also be referred to as the Perpetual Venue of Magazine Excavation).
Both John (a.k.a. The Illustrious Film Critic, J. Daniel Holliday) and Miss Cee are ensconced in their respective "club chairs." [Not to self: what club do they belong to?] Incredibly, they have taken it upon themselves to turn off the television (OK, they used the remote control, but it still counts!) and plant their little noses in books. I knew they had to have a little of me in them!!
But, what are they reading? Whatever it is, it appears to be engrossing. Upon further inspection, I see that both are reading out of zip-up book covers...one featuring Larry the Cucumber (from Veggie Tales, for the uninitiated), and one covered in tapestry cloth woven with angels.
They are reading their Bibles. On their own. With no prodding or bribing...without even seeing me do it for most of this past week.
They each have a printed Bible reading schedule with dates and tiny boxes that they dutifully check off...who knew?
How do these things happen? There are some minor details that involve their humbled parents...buying these volumes for them, being seen now and then with our own noses in our own copies...but the Big Answer is that they are aware, and are--I trust--becoming more aware that the Book is about Someone. Someone Big. And Powerful; Who cares more for them than they can imagine...and He is drawing them, encouraging them, being found by them...
It is humbling and exhilarating to have two of my children be my example.
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