"Lead By Example"

By: Zach Wood

Romans 12:2a

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

 

 

For the past few months, I have had such a joy being able to come home from work and play with my beautiful little girl.  I am always excited to come home and hold her in my arms.  What I love most is looking into her eyes and making her laugh by all the goofy faces I make.  By gazing into her eyes, I am just warm all over with the precious gift that God has laid before my eyes.  I literally cannot describe how wonderful it is to look at my beautiful daughter and think, "Wow God!  You really put a beautiful one in my life!"  She is a bundle of joy.  Sometimes when I look at her, I think of how she looks and observes me. She is very good at observing things around her.  Right now and the older she gets, she will observe how I react to things and how I handle life situations.  I want to be the best father I can be for her.  That means reacting calmly to situations where I usually get upset or get a temper.  I know, we are all human, but it is something I constantly have to work on.  I sometimes have a short fuse and I do not want her to see that kind of example in her daddy.  So, that means I have some work to do.  Each day, I pray that God will help me be a better daddy for her to see. 

 

Jayda has some wonderful family members around her here that treat her with love and show her Christ's love.  She gets hugs and kisses and lots of love.  However, her father figure is me, so I need to be sure I'm leading by example.  Every time I think about the example I'm setting for her, I consider the song by Philips, Craig & Dean called, "I Want To Be Just Like You".  I know, the song is about a father and his son, but I think about it as me being an example to my daughter.  I change the chorus in my mind to say, "Lord I want to be just like You, cause she wants to be just like me.  I want to be a Holy example for her innocent eyes to see."  That is my prayer.  I want to be the best example of God's love for her to see.  Her mother is to be a Christ-like example as well, but God has called me to be the head of the household and to be the Christ figure in her life to lead her.  I am the spiritual leader in the family and I am called to lead by example.  Wow!  What a responsibility.  It is not easy to do.  Pressures of everyday life can easily get to me.  That is why I need God's strength to be strong for her and to be a good example. 

 

Many of you have children and you know exactly what I am talking about.  I am sure you want to be that Christ-life figure to your children.  If you do not have children then think of the kids you work with or are around sometimes.  We all have an influence on children when we are around them.  I pray that you think about the example you are setting for them when you talk to them or their parents.  Always speak in love and compassion.  That is what they need to see.  My daughter needs to see Jesus in me.  Period.

 

As Paul states in this passage, I am not to be controlled by the pattern of this world.  I am to have a transformed and renewed mind.  If I am not thinking of things God wants my mind to be filled with, then Satan will have his way and affect the example I am to my daughter.  I do not want that and I know you do not either, whether you are around your own children or other children.  If our hearts and minds are transformed and filled with Godly thoughts, Christ will shine through us.  We can all lead by example and show Christ's love to the little ones.