Mirror Moments
It was one of those "mirror moments". One of my children had just done something that made me grimace. Why did this little stunt cause such a response in me? It wasn't that the behavior was so offensive, but that I knew that he had learned that particular behavior from me. Sadly, the apple wasn't falling far from the tree...
"Mirror moments" are one of the bittersweet parts of parenting because they come in two different forms. It is truly a sweet experience when we catch one of our children imitating one of the good qualities or habits that have managed to develop in our lives over the years. Who can help but smile when we see our child bow in prayer when they can't find their favorite book, or display kindness toward a new kid at soccer. But then there are those painful times when we instead find them imitating our faults. "Oh no," we think. "This bad behavior that I've struggled so much with in my life is being picked up by my child!" Many parents see this pattern, feel overwhelmed and then just ignore the whole situation. In spite of how we FEEL at such a time, I'm convinced that these little events are one of the hidden treasures of parenting. God has blessed us with children partly because of the purifying effect of such moments, both for ourselves and for our children.
Now in order to benefit from our "mirror moments" we need to recognize what God is trying to do in them. What is the purpose of a mirror? It is to show us what we look like. When I find a piece of food on my collar on my way out the door, I can ignore the mirror and refuse to look at it any more, or I can be grateful that the mirror has helped me identify a problem that needs to be taken care of. God allows these moments of self-discovery with our children because He dearly wants to make us holy like He is. To do any less than gaze honestly into the mirror is to miss the blessing that God has in such encounters.
But to change, ah, that is is the difficulty. It is one thing to honestly look, but how does "looking" translate into "changing"? This is where another function of a mirror comes into play. What if instead of noticing a piece of food on my collar I notice a cancerous growth on my forehead? In this case, the mirror functions to show not only what I look like, but also whether the problem I discover is something that I can take care of on my own or not. In the case of a spot of melanoma, I desperately need the help of something or someone outside of myself. I have discovered something about myself for which I have no power to adequately address! Isn't this a picture of the sin patterns of our lives? Bold resolutions and creative strategies for change only end up highlighting what an honest look in the mirror should have told us. We are out of our league and desperately need help.
Uncomfortable as it is, this is exactly where our loving Heavenly Father wants us. It is not until we recognize our helplessness that we will look to the only One who can really do what is needed. When we finally turn the mirror away from ourselves and point it toward Christ, we will begin to notice change taking place in our areas of struggle. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18 As by the Spirit of the Lord?! Could it be that there is a Divine Physician who can rescue me from the patterns of sin that plague me and my children? Yes! And as we believe this wonderful truth and persevere in believing (trustingly obey), He quietly brings the healing and freedom that we long for.
But how does this all benefit my children who have picked up my bad habits? It is only this. Children don't need instructors as badly as they need examples. As I look to Jesus and allow His Spirit to deliver me from my sin, I will do far more for my child than I would by just confronting them about an area of sin in their life (although this is very important).I will be showing them how to overcome. And thus God allows the "mirror moments" to become a precious treasure to us both.
"Mirror moments" are one of the bittersweet parts of parenting because they come in two different forms. It is truly a sweet experience when we catch one of our children imitating one of the good qualities or habits that have managed to develop in our lives over the years. Who can help but smile when we see our child bow in prayer when they can't find their favorite book, or display kindness toward a new kid at soccer. But then there are those painful times when we instead find them imitating our faults. "Oh no," we think. "This bad behavior that I've struggled so much with in my life is being picked up by my child!" Many parents see this pattern, feel overwhelmed and then just ignore the whole situation. In spite of how we FEEL at such a time, I'm convinced that these little events are one of the hidden treasures of parenting. God has blessed us with children partly because of the purifying effect of such moments, both for ourselves and for our children.
Now in order to benefit from our "mirror moments" we need to recognize what God is trying to do in them. What is the purpose of a mirror? It is to show us what we look like. When I find a piece of food on my collar on my way out the door, I can ignore the mirror and refuse to look at it any more, or I can be grateful that the mirror has helped me identify a problem that needs to be taken care of. God allows these moments of self-discovery with our children because He dearly wants to make us holy like He is. To do any less than gaze honestly into the mirror is to miss the blessing that God has in such encounters.
But to change, ah, that is is the difficulty. It is one thing to honestly look, but how does "looking" translate into "changing"? This is where another function of a mirror comes into play. What if instead of noticing a piece of food on my collar I notice a cancerous growth on my forehead? In this case, the mirror functions to show not only what I look like, but also whether the problem I discover is something that I can take care of on my own or not. In the case of a spot of melanoma, I desperately need the help of something or someone outside of myself. I have discovered something about myself for which I have no power to adequately address! Isn't this a picture of the sin patterns of our lives? Bold resolutions and creative strategies for change only end up highlighting what an honest look in the mirror should have told us. We are out of our league and desperately need help.
Uncomfortable as it is, this is exactly where our loving Heavenly Father wants us. It is not until we recognize our helplessness that we will look to the only One who can really do what is needed. When we finally turn the mirror away from ourselves and point it toward Christ, we will begin to notice change taking place in our areas of struggle. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18 As by the Spirit of the Lord?! Could it be that there is a Divine Physician who can rescue me from the patterns of sin that plague me and my children? Yes! And as we believe this wonderful truth and persevere in believing (trustingly obey), He quietly brings the healing and freedom that we long for.
But how does this all benefit my children who have picked up my bad habits? It is only this. Children don't need instructors as badly as they need examples. As I look to Jesus and allow His Spirit to deliver me from my sin, I will do far more for my child than I would by just confronting them about an area of sin in their life (although this is very important).I will be showing them how to overcome. And thus God allows the "mirror moments" to become a precious treasure to us both.
Labels: Parenting, Personal Revival, Repentence, Revival
posted by pressingon at
5:29 PM
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