By Julie Willoughby, Director of Dutilh Preschool
Have there been people in your life who had a big influence in your walk of faith? This question stopped me in my tracks a few weeks ago when I was getting the kids in the car for one of their afterschool activities. It was a hectic time of day as we were getting everything we needed, putting jackets and shoes on, and heading out the door. In that busy moment, however, I quickly found myself challenged and overwhelmed with a great responsibility.
My daughter Claire was getting her shoes on in that busy moment while I was grabbing keys and water bottles. She looked up at me and said, “Mommy, I hope to be just like you when I grow up.” The compliment was very sweet and instantly brought a smile to my face. We continued getting ready and got in the car. While driving down the road, I began to really digest the sweet comment Claire had given me. I felt flattered, but I also felt an instant level of conviction.
In that moment I felt the weight of my responsibility. I was influencing Claire (and Jonah), for better or for worse. You see, I had been rushing around getting everyone and everything ready just minutes before, and I had forgotten a really important truth: They’re they’re watching me when I’m trying to rush them around to get ready; they’re watching me when I lose my patience easily; but they’re also watching me when I take the time to slow down and be present; they’re watching me when I pray and when I love on a neighbor or friend and serve with a heart of Christ.
This holiday season is an easy time to get lost in the hustle and bustle. While my husband and I both try to teach and embrace the joy it is to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus, it may not look as obvious in the busyness of buying gifts, attending Christmas events, baking cookies, etc. Those are all great things, but when I look at those things through the lens of my children watching what I do and “wanting to be like me,” I really need to be intentional about what we choose to do and what we choose not to do.
I love what God’s word teaches us about what’s most important from Deuteronomy 6:5-9: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
This holiday season is the perfect time to model God’s word by living it out in each conversation, each act of love, and each activity we find ourselves doing. Impressing God’s truth upon their hearts is truly the most significant part of our role as parents. When Claire wants to be “just like me,” I pray that she sees Jesus shining and that being “just like me” includes being in the word, loving God with all my heart, soul, and strength, and loving my neighbor as myself. That is the influence I want to impress upon my children! The Christmas season is the perfect time to realign myself and the priorities I set for my family, and be sure that everything goes back to glorifying God in all we do.
Something that my husband and I started with my children recently has been a family Advent devotional. It has been so rewarding for all of us and has reminded us that family devotional time is really training up our children when we take the time to be purposeful and intentional about the limited time we do really have with our children. The book we are using is called The Adventure of Christmas: A Journey Through Advent for the Whole Family by Ed Drew. I love what one of the reviewers said about this great resource: “Each standalone session includes a short Bible reading (primarily the Gospel of Luke) and is designed to take only ten minutes—perfect for an after-dinner devotional or a bedtime story. Parents are encouraged to think, talk, and pray with their children about one aspect of Christmas each day. Each lesson also suggests four questions differentiated by age to fit the distinct needs of any family. Optional extras include fun facts, arts and crafts, ideas for discussion, home activities, and techy tools.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this if you and your family decide to participate in this as well. I’m excited for all God is teaching us individually and as a family through this time.
My kids are watching me, and I know your kids are watching YOU, too! What might be something you’ll be more intentional about this holiday season or in 2022 to model our faith with our children?
Dutilh Church 