Imitating Daddy

My grandson, Silas, loves playing in the dirt. At two-years old, his passion for digging in the yard with toy bulldozers, backhoes and dump trunks is astounding. When we’re together, we spend hours with his toy trucks plowing and building in the sandbox or in the mud. Most days, to complete whatever imaginative building project he has dreamed up, he’ll run inside only for a few minutes at a time to grab a different truck, like a crane, tractor or tow truck. To my surprise, one day a few weeks ago, he stopped in the middle of building an imaginary parking garage, grabbed me by the hand and pulled me to the front door. As he stretched his arms towards me, I picked him up and started to open the door.

“No, grandma, Silas wants to push the button,” he chirped, pointing determinedly to the doorbell.

“No, Silas,” I replied, “you live here. You don’t need to ring the doorbell.” 

If you’ve ever debated with a young child, you know how persistent they can be. After several back-and-forth conversations on why you don’t need to ring your own doorbell, the toddler crawled down from my arms to try another strategy on grandma. After tugging me backwards, he again headed to the front door. Looking serious, he tapped the front door lightly, and explained that, 

“We are at a friend’s house.”

Ah, now, this dense grandmother understood the game. He and his parents had recently visited new friends a few blocks away and Silas must be reenacting that trip. I nodded my understanding. After looking at me for a moment (to be sure that I was on board with his plan), he began knocking on the door. 

“Silas is at a friend’s house,” he repeated. As soon as we turned the doorknob, he dashed quickly inside, turning to push me back outdoors.

“Okay,” I quipped, “what does Grandma do now?” 

Smiling, he answered, “knock” as he slammed the door with him on the inside and me on the outside. Gently, I knocked on the door. Silas opened the door with a bright smile, his right arm outstretched towards mine. “Jeff,” he said, nodding, reaching down to grab my hand, then shaking it vigorously.

“Your name is Silas,” I corrected him. Racing to the other side of the living room, he returned a moment later walking confidently, reached out his hand again and when I shook it, he repeated, “Jeff.” Pretending to introduce myself, I said “Grandma” as I shook his hand, unsure if that was the correct response. He approved with a nod before saying “Jeff” once again.

Laughing, I realized that he was imitating his father, Jeff. His dad, I’m sure, had been completely unaware that his young son watched so closely when he shook hands and introduced himself to others at his friend’s house. 

A week or so later, my daughter suggested that I ask Silas what kind of dog he has. 

“Silas, what kind of dog is Coco?” I quizzed, expecting to hear a silly reply about his giant sized dog.

“She’s a labradoodle, golden doodle,” came the adultlike response in a 2-year old voice. As complex as the dog breed was, he was absolutely right. Since Silas spends time with his father at the dog park and dog beach frequently, he perfectly echoes his dad’s response to the question of “what type of dog is she?”

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Children are natural imitators. Just as my grandson imitates his father, Christ followers are instructed to imitate our Heavenly Father: 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” 
Ephesians 5:1-2

To be a true imitator of our Abba Father (Daddy), we must draw near to him by spending time with Him and His word. When we act according to our nature as children of God, we emulate God’s kindness, tenderness and forgiveness. When we imitate Jesus, we not only do what He did, praying and serving sacrificially, but we do it out of love as He did. Jesus said it this way,

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
John 13:15

May we draw so near to God that we seek to follow His example with a life of obedience and love, walking “in the same way in which He walked.” I John 2:6b