follow the Leader in love

As a parent I sometimes struggle
with knowing when to let my kids
become themselves completely
and when to reign them in,
letting them know they are
way too far off course from
the standards to which I hold them.

I mean, it's not about breaking rules
or being honest, kind, or truthful.
But rather, choices they make,
friends they choose, values they decide
which should be worthy of
​their time and investment.

And when this mixture runs contrary
to what burns deep within myself
I have to remember that I too
had a chance to become a young adult
and find my way, making mistakes,
stepping on and off the path,
learning in the journey of life.

I share with them,
(when they care to hear)
those things I've learned.
But somehow they can't see me
as one of their contemporaries.
As if I was ever as really young
and as idealistic as they are now.

Still, when their dad and I
pay all their bills, it frustrates
the system when I watch them waste
good resources over bad choices.

So when I read these words
Therefore be imitators of God
as dear children.
Ephesians 5:1 NKJV
​
I understand them differently
than I did before I was a parent.

I used to see them as if
I were a kid living those
long summer days when we
played Simon says, or
follow the leader.

as dear children...
I used to see
the child's perspective.

Follow the leader.
You had to do EXACTLY what
the leader did or you were "out."

But usually, whoever was leading
would try to trick those following.
Because they didn't want to stop
being the leader.

So we just had to keep
imitating even when we knew
it wasn't really a fair game.

But everyone wanted a chance
to be "IT," so YOU could call out
the commands and make everyone
else do what YOU said.

But that's not the child-like way
God desires... it's just childish.
We actually are supposed to
follow the leader in life.

Except it's not a game.
God is the Leader and we,
His children.

But He's not out to trick us.
He's not looking to give us
some command which
we are not capable to do.

Nor is He waiting to catch us
doing it wrong... acutally He created us
with gifts and talents for a purpose
and He's trying to teach us
to follow Him, to imitate Him,
so we can learn how to use them.

But here we are, often misunderstanding
and wanting to be the leader ourself.
We don't want to "take orders,"
or do life someone else's way.

Even though Paul's advice
should be strongly considered.
Therefore be imitators of God
as dear children.
Ephesians 5:1

Follow the Leader,
Do as I do... says God,
and it will go well with you.

And He calls us
as dear children.

Which translated means...
beloved or, dearly
and divinely loved.

And if we will take to heart
that we are truly children,
lacking grand perspective
in comparison with His wisdom...
then we might be more willing
to lean into His understanding,
to rely on Him a bit more, as He
has a higher and better perspective.

After all, He is not bounded by time.
He knows our future before we
even step into it.

We as children can depend on Him,
just as our children depend on us.

And that's when my thoughts
toward this advice changed...
when I had children,
when I realized a fraction of
how God must feel
​as a Father, as a parent.

How would we feel, if
as we provide for our children,
they continually walk away,
not acknowledging we even exist;
even though we sustain them,
keep them clothed, fed, and sometimes
so much as provide them a car to drive.

But they walk past us to
the bedroom in the house we pay for,
without even so much as a glance
or a nod. And then, they behave
however they please...
not even considering, nor acting
as we have taught them;
with polite manners and kind actions.

What?
We want them to be chidren...
respectful and honoring of us,
dependant and relying on us
because we love and provide for them.

Could that possibly be a peek into
how God feels about us?

This is not advice given
to cause us frustration and
humility without a purpose.

This is from a Father to
His divinely and dearly loved
children, Who desires to be close
to them because they appreciate
Him and know He has what is best
for them on His mind.

Therefore be imitators
of God as dear children.
​
And walk in love,
as Christ also has loved us
and given Himself for us,
an offering and
a sacrifice to God
for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2

Word of God
train me today...
To know and acknowledge Your divine
love for me; to lean on and trust in You.

To imitate Your love for me, walking in love,
humbly putting others before myself.