Always Teaching

Life with a two year old has been filled with some of the best moments of our lives and some of the more frustrating ones. Our boy is so sweet the majority of the time and in the less sweet moments, he’s still adorable — he just makes you think and take deep breaths because he really likes to tell us “No!” He has such a desire to be independent that he gets easily frustrated by the things that he isn’t able to do on his own yet. I know this developing independence is a part of growing up, but nonetheless, it can be frustrating at times — especially when you need him to do (or not do) something. He watches everything that we do and is constantly trying to do the things we do. He has taken a liking to the dishes and will quickly push a chair over to the kitchen sink, turn on the water, and begin “scrubbing” any dish in sight. It’s adorable, but very messy! He’s like a shadow — especially with Marc — and we often have to remind each other that we’re always teaching!

“Always teaching” became a phrase in our house as soon as our oldest began to try and copy the things that we do. Marc and I say it to each other if we catch each other doing something that we probably don’t want our oldest to learn — tipping on the legs of our chair, tossing an ink pen to each other, and other random things that we don’t think about our little ones picking up on. Nothing has made me more self aware of the things I do and say, then having kids. It’s so easy to go through a day and not really pay attention to the things we do or say because we don’t think anyone is watching us or we’re simply unaware of the ones who are. I was reminded this past Sunday that our kids really are watching what we do — the good, the bad, and the indifferent.

I was getting ready for church on Sunday, and my little guy was watching me do my hair like he often does. He opened the drawer where I keep my comb and handed it to me and then proceeded to watch as I styled it. I planned on wearing a hat, but hadn’t mentioned that out loud or even said the word “hat” at any point. I don’t always wear a hat, but when I do I typically style my hair the same way. I pulled my hair into the bun on the side at the base of my neck and secured it with a ponytail. Within seconds of me finishing my hair, my little guy abruptly left the bathroom, went to my bedroom, and returned with my hat! I was completely shocked to say the least. He was SO proud of himself and I couldn’t stop smiling because I was so shocked! He knew I was going to wear my hat, simply because he saw how I styled my hair! I don’t know if that’s common for a 26 month old boy, but I certainly wasn’t expecting it! In that moment, God reminded me that I’m always teaching — and so is He!

I think God uses our kids in such profound ways to teach us about ourselves. He takes simple things like my little guy getting my hat for me unprompted to teach me about my relationship with Him. Just like my son watches me so closely that he knows when I’m going to wear a hat based on my hair style, I should be watching Him that closely too! My son spends almost 100% of his awake time in my presence. He watches me from the moment he wakes up until his daddy takes him to his room to put him to sleep for the night. He watches what I say, how I act, and the routines I keep. He knows where things belong and has an incredible memory. He recognizes his daddy’s truck when he comes home after work, and when he’s ready to eat he’ll buckle himself in his booster seat at the table. He knows us. He knows our routines, he picks up on cues and phrases that indicate a transition into the next part of our day, and he’s aware of our presence. Isn’t that how our relationship with God should be?

I think that just as my little guy pays such close attention to the things that I do that he can tell when I’m going to wear a hat based on my hairstyle, I should be paying such close attention to God, that I can tell when He’s about to do something too. I think that I should know His voice, His character, His way, His heart, His being, so well that I don’t miss out on the opportunity to “grab His hat” for Him. A part of the prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17 was that we would be one as He and the Father are one. He prayed that just as the Father and Him are one, that we as believers, would be one with them also. He wasn’t praying that we would be them — we’re human and we are NOT God. He was praying that we would know Him so well, that we would do what He has called us to do. That we would know Him just as He knows the Father and only does what the Father tells Him to do (John 5:19). Our relationship with Him should be one in which we know Him so well that we only do the things that He tells us to do.

This journey of knowing is long and it isn’t easy. It requires spending time with Him and listening to Him. It means that I have to watch and allow the Holy Spirit to lead me. It means I have to remember the frustration of when my little guy tells me “No” when I tell him to do — or not do — something because I don’t want to say “No” when God tells me to do — or not do — something. It means that I have to remember that He is always teaching, so I need to be always learning.

Song of the Week: This week I chose “While You Were Sleeping” by Casting Crowns because I heard it on the radio and the lyrics are very convicting in my opinion. Enjoy!