We were privileged to have my parents join us at 11:00 service at church today. Daniel, my silly and busy two year old, was standing in the chair between my parents holding their hands during the singing. He was dancing and smiling, just having the time of his life. Then the pastor began to pray; Daniel got quiet and still. As the pastor paused towards the end of his prayer, the back half of the church heard, “YAYA! CLOSE EYES!” David and I couldn’t stop the laughter; and the look on my mom’s face was priceless. She had opened her eyes to check on Daniel during the prayer and he called her out in front of everyone! It was so hilarious

As usual, this made me think a little deeper. Daniel is watching us and he is learning the right and wrong way to do things. He may not understand what prayer is, but he understands that it is a time where he needs to be still, quiet and keep his eyes closed. He has seen us do it enough that he is now learning to recognize prayer other places and not just at meals.

Moral of the story: Our children are watching. What are we teaching them? Will they see enough faith to recognize unbelief? Will they hear enough truth to recognize the lies? Will they see enough hope that they grow a heart for the lost? Let’s lead them well and point them to Jesus in all that we do.

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.”                   Luke 11:33 NIV