Today’s OneFamily Letter is but a short video clip of a baby under 1 year old and a poem that captures the reality of a child’s growing heart and mind. Enjoy both. Our little babies are doing to us what we aspire to do to God – mimic His ways. We humans are designed to be copying creatures trying to sync up with our givers of life. Think on this: As far as your child is concerned, God is not some abstract in heaven – God is real in you.

There are little eyes upon you,

And they are watching night and day;

There are little ears that quickly

Take in every word you say.

There are little hands all eager

To do everything you do;

and a little boy who’s dreaming

Of the day he’ll be like you.

You’re the little fellow’s idol;

You’re the wisest of the wise;

In his little mind, about you

No suspicions ever rise.

 He believes in you devotedly,

Holds that all you say and do,

He will say and do in your way

When he’s grown up like you.

There’s a wide-eyed little fellow

Who believes you’re always right;

And his ears are always open,

And he watches day and night.

You are setting an example

Every day in all you do;

For the little boy who’s waiting

To grow up to be just like you.

Avleek Dhiman

Here’s another thought: Your child’s potential can only be fulfilled if you fulfill yours. The better your marriage, the more loving the family, the richer the intellectual environment, the more engaged and uplifting and energized the mom and dad team is – the greater the potential the child has. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful and fitting idea within God’s creation. But what a challenge.

The child in the video couldn’t be taught CPR, but could only lovingly mimic it. The poem captures well the notion that whatever challenges slow you, also slow your children. Blessedly the reverse is true as well, perseverance and dedication to the highest example you model for your family is infused in the character of your children. You are what they aspire to be – in good and bad.

To being God’s example,

Lis and Dave Marr

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19