She is an explorer. Every day an adventure. She is climbing mountains. Stumbling into new discoveries. She is moving forward one step at a time. And she is two.
She is an explorer. At two years old she is discovering the world around her. What is her guide? Her map on these adventures?
Imitation. Watching and repeating. What she sees. What she hears all goes through and back out on repeat.
It is both entertaining and scary to watch my precious two-year-old learn through imitation. Somedays I see things that make me proud. She says thank you when her daddy pours her milk. Or she talks to her baby sister in a sing-song voice. Somedays I see things that make me cringe. Like my bad habits. My flaws coming out through her. Other days I just laugh as I see her with her baby doll “doing eyelashes” like mommy does. Or in her words “like mommy dis!”
Like mommy dis. Like daddy dis. Like baby sister dis. Like Aunt dis. Like the friend in the nursery at church dis. Like the lady at the grocery store dis. She is a sponge. She is an explorer. On an adventure of imitation.
She is a toddler yet we can learn from her world. Because the truth is we are all on an imitation adventure. We are imitators of someone, something. We do the things we see, hear and feel. Everyone is following someone or something to some degree or another.
Take some time today. Ask God, who am I imitating? Is it Jesus? Is it someone famous? Someone I think is beautiful?
We are all moving forward one step at a time watching, listening, imitating. Who are you imitating?
Ephesians 5:1-2 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. ESV
Hebrews 6:12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. NLT
1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. NIV
