I set my baby on the kitchen floor and opened the fridge to get the leftover containers out for lunch.
“He’s getting so good at belly crawling,” I commented to my 2-year-old. “Pretty soon he’ll be up on his hands and knees doing proper crawling.”
I fetched a serving spoon and began putting food on our plates.
I turned to my 2-year-old. “Do you want your food warm or cold?”
She glanced at the table from where she was on the floor, busy building with magnetic blocks. “Cold.”
I glanced at my baby who had lost interest in the blue car he had been playing with and was now making his way across the kitchen floor.
I put my plate of food in the microwave and turned it on.
I filled our water glasses, then looked over at my baby again. He was studying the wall. Perhaps he liked the texture of the paint?
Hearing the microwave beep, I turned to retrieve my food.
When I glanced back at him, he was just reaching the furnace vent in the floor.
“Careful,” I warned him, “that could have sharp parts.”
Of course, he didn’t understand me. He continued touching the vent.
I set my hot food on the table and headed in his direction.
Then, to my disgust, I saw him put his head down on the floor vent and lick the metal grate.
“No, no,” I said, scooping him up. “We don’t lick floor vents.”
As I carried him towards the table, I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye.
My 2-year-old had left her blocks and was crawling. She was making a beeline for the very vent I’d just pulled my baby away from.
With a giggle, she licked the floor vent.
This incident is one of the more memorable times my 2-year-old copied my baby. She’d never thought to lick a floor vent before, but here she was doing it because her baby brother decided to give it a try.
There have been many other times my 2-year-old has desired to mimic our baby. She has wanted to be carried more. She has reverted to requesting to be spoon-fed. If I give my baby a biting toy, she wants one too.
In truth, such desires to be more “baby-like” are common in toddlers who have a new baby in the house. Indeed, even in the area of potty training, many fully trained toddlers have gone back to diapers when the new baby arrives.
Why share this story? Because I am similar to my daughter. Whether I realize it or not, I mimic those around me.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, unless I mimic those who set foolish or harmful examples.
In my walk with God, I am to be growing towards maturity (Heb. 5:11-14, James 1:4).
Likewise, my toddler is supposed to be growing in ability and intelligence.
When she mimics her baby brother, she is going backwards in her development. She is becoming more baby-like.
So who am I mimicking?
Are they influencing me towards maturity in Jesus, or away from it?
It’s worth taking time to consider the influence of my family, friends, and church leaders.
I like how it is put in Hebrews 13:7 – “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” (CSB)
On top of that, which authors/influencers/musicians am I listening to? What influence do they have on me?
If, when I look around, it seems no one is influencing me towards a deeper relationship with Jesus, it may be time to make some changes.
One of those changes could simply be reading a biography of a Christian who had a deep personal relationship with Jesus.
My favourites include:
- Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
- Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. Howard Taylor
- Seeking Allah Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
I was recently reminded of the encouragement podcasts can give when I listened to “Women Worth Knowing” by Cheryl Broderson and Robin Jones Gunn, “Enduring Words” by David Guzik, and “Laugh Again” by Phil Callaway.
Ultimately it is Jesus whose example I am to follow.
All these other examples ought to point me towards Him. As Paul put it: “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB)
Being intentional to keep times of prayer and Bible reading in my daily life is critical for this.
As I go forward, may I be aware of how I am being influenced. May I be intentional to seek out those who would influence me towards Jesus. May I grow towards maturity in my walk with Jesus.
