Just Like You
I knew there was that one toy we just had to have.
A toy vacuum.
I know for some, it may be something completely different, but you know that “one” toy that you either had growing up or something you saw in the store and KNEW your child had to have it. Well, that was the toy vacuum for me.
Anytime I took out our vacuum, Mazy squealed and waved her arms up high in excitement. Yes, this is the same vacuum that she got her hand stuck in too. That taught this mother something – despite the past, she still wanted to do things just like me.
At a garage sale this past summer, I found THE vacuum. Forget the Dyson, I went with the old school “popper” where the little tiny balls pop up as you push it. She thought she was big stuff. I mean BIG stuff. Anytime I told Mazy mommy was going to vacuum, she would run in her little pitter patter way over to hers, and shriek, begging mommy to get hers too. She stood right next to me, just giggling as she took swipes across the carpet, just like me.
My friends, our kids are watching us. They are watching our every move. Have they ever said or done something and you look at your spouse and say “I wonder where they learned THAT from?” How do you think they know how to eat? How to read? How to play a game? How to walk? How to smile? How to even go to the bathroom? I mean really, isn’t it crazy to think that our kids are going to learn how to live life AND love life, from US? It may seem a bit overwhelming, but it does make me think about my actions, my words, and my love.
Yet I have to look no further than to the One who created me. I have my example, always before me. Christ set the perfect example of what love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control look like.
Realizing that our kids are watching our every move, makes me want to appreciate every moment. This past Christmas, I wanted to frost cookies with Mazy. Before showing her how, she thought “frosting” cookies meant just putting the cookie in the frosting bowl. I started laughing and she looked at me like “what, mom? You told me we were going to frost them!” I then showed her what I meant by frosting and it became a memory I won’t forget.
And vacuuming has become something I love to do with her too. Of course I watch where those little hands and toes are, but now that she wants to do it right alongside with me, I can’t help but love the gift of teaching my child about life. (Though one day I will have to show her what vacuum lines on carpet look like…)
