Friday, May 04, 2007

Like father, like son, well almost

As a father it's great to some times see my son develop habits, characteristics that i have. As a youth worker it's quite disturbing though.
Yesterday I was talking with my son about a cross country run he had been doing at school. about half way he was last and ready to give up - because like his father (ME) if he can't be best than it isn't good enough, and like his father (ME AGAIN) when this happens he often to use my phrase "takes all his toys out of the play pen". I can still remember when i was 12 being involved in a 400m relay at school, coming last (mainly because the person who handed me the baton was last) and getting hacked off and throwing the baton at the person I was to hand it too - talk about spitting the dummy.
Anyway just as my son was about to do the same, he did something different.... He carried on running, he didn't give up and finished the race (NOT LIKE ME). I am however glad to say that not giving up is something that in my adult life i have learnt from heavenly Father, it's cool to see that trait developing in my son too.
As for the race, well after he decided to carry on he realised the reason he was behind was not becuase he was slow, but becuase he had paced himslef, while everyone else was of sprinting and colapsing on the side line exhausted, he ran at a pace that meant he would finish and finish well - I think there is soemthing in the Bible about that....

2 comments:

Debs said...

Awww that makes me want to cry actually! As a Mum of a 9 year old I understand just how much they watch us and attempt to model our behaviour etc. They so long to be like us.

I had left for work at the crack of dawn yesterday morning so someone else took my daughter to school - when i picked her up at 3pm she was wearing MY hoodie, MY necklace and MY shoes....because she wanted to be like me.

As you aluded to, imagine if we had a similar burning desire to want to be like OUR heavenly father, copying him, modeling his behaviour, wearing his clothes to work.......

Anonymous said...

I like that image Wearing Hid Clothes to work... it's such a cool image of discipleship