Modeling Christ to our Children

  • Jackie Rovell
  • Mar 31, 2010
  • Series: Infusion Blog

blogpic_Jackie  by Jackie Rovell

Several weeks ago I met with a group of three dear and long time friends ... all women about my age, with children about the same age, all home-schooling moms at some point in our kids' education, some continuing on the road of home education while others feeling the Lord directing the decision to send their children to public or private Christian schools. There was a lot of catching up to do that Wednesday night. The four of us hadn't met together in years, so a lot of mothering stories were swapped that night. Funny how wisdom comes out between sips of tea and bites of dessert. Funny how it comes out in the struggles, and in the grappling for answers. Funny how you can hear the same thing over and over, and in one moment God turns on the light on and BAM... the illumination gives you comprehension, clarity, and a healthy dose of conviction.

Since all of us have 20 years or more of parenting under our belts there was a wealth of wisdom batted around that Mimi's Cafe booth that night ... though I didn't fully comprehend all that was said until pondering it the next morning: MODEL CHRIST TO MY CHILDREN. Really as I write it, it doesn't seem so earth shattering. After all, through the years I've heard the catchy phrase "faith is caught, not taught." I'd nod my head in agreement and think "yes, that's right. I must remember that." And truly I would remember it for a few hours, maybe even a few days, until the busyness of my mothering responsibilities crashed like a wave over the pearl of wisdom and dragged it into the deep recesses of my mind.

But here again, at Mimi's Cafe, God had this nugget, this pearl, wash up on the shores of my mind: MODEL CHRIST TO MY CHILDREN.

Model Christ's LOVE to my children
Model His SERVANTHOOD
Model His KINDNESS
Model His PRAYERFULNESS

I am to primarily focus on MODELING CHRIST in the day to day. I'm NOT supposed to focus on another parenting book or DVD series, the new and latest curriculum, or another chart or method for discipline. While all these are good, and even necessary, they are secondary. If I can focus on modeling Christ in response to interruptions, in my attitude, in my tone of voice, in my day to day conversations with my children, then the fruit I so desperately long to see will come. I can bank on it because He who promised is Faithful: "Rather train yourselves for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Tim.4: 7-8).