Remember Children Are Listening, Watching And Imitating

Don’t give up — it is never too late to become what you might have been!

“… being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

There are a whole lot of polls out there that talk about what people want to be when they grow up. Some polls say that only 4 percent of people actually grow up to work in the profession they wanted to as children. Another may have that percentage as high as 20 percent. But the fact remains, not everyone can be an astronaut or a ballerina.

When we’re kids we have all kinds of fantasies of how great adult life will be. We can be our own bosses. No one tells us what to do. Nobody will care if all we eat is ice cream.

Goodness. Where do kids get these things?

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a common question we ask children. But today I want to turn it around a bit. I want to ask you a question.

What do you want to do in Church when you grow up?

I asked that question to a group of my students recently. The answers are humbling.

One girl wanted to be the person that leads children’s time in the service. Just like her dad does. One boy wanted to be the person who reads the scripture on Sunday morning. Just like his dad does. One girl wanted to be a praise singer. Just like her dad does. One boy wanted to maybe be a preacher or at the minimum someone who tells their testimony to the church. Just like his mom did. Another wanted to be a Sunday School teacher. Just like Mrs. Silva. Another wanted to cook breakfast for everyone every Sunday. Just like Mr. Zelenka. Another wanted to be the person who leads the congregation in prayer every week. Just like Mrs. Jodi. When we look at kids in the world around us we want to imitate our heroes. Boys want to be astronauts because of Neil Armstrong. Girls want to be famous actresses because of Audrey Hepburn. Children want to imitate their role models.

So my question to you is, what do you want to do in Church when you grow up? Not because you feel compelled or obligated to help. But because you want to inspire our children.

Do you want to pray? Teach? Feed the hungry? Go on a mission trip? Tell your story to your congregation?

Whatever it is that God is calling you to do, remem- ber, there are a lot of little eyes and ears straining to imitate everything you do. Let us pray. Our most gracious God. We thank you so much that you allow us all to participate in worshipping you. We ask that you will please help us discern where we can best serve as a role model for our children and teach them that the greatest love of all is the love we share through you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. TROY CONRAD IS PASTOR OF THE FARMINTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.