Cleaning the Mirror
Have you ever walked into your bathroom and thought, “wow, when did that mirror get so dirty?” You look at it and notice the water spots, the toothpaste, the fingerprints etc making your reflection not so shiny. Oh, that hasn’t happened to you? I’m impressed. It happens regularly to me. I’ll notice a little spot here or there and think, I need to clean this mirror. Life happens that day and I forget all about the mirror. Before I know it, the mirror is in desperate need of a scrub down.
Lately, I have noticed a few attitudes/behaviors in my kiddos that aren’t what they should be. Attitudes toward each other, showing a bit of disrespect here or there, choosing to follow when they should choose to lead, etc. What was the best way to handle that? I decided that a bit of scripture memorization would be a fine start. After some time in prayer and reading the scripture, I felt that one of Eddie’s favorite verses would be perfect.
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.”
If they are busy thinking about what is noble or lovely, if they are looking for what is of good report, that should help them to focus on what they should be doing or saying and who they should be following after. I want to teach them to reflect on their attitudes and actions and see how they compare with this verse. I want them to strive to please God and not man.
Do you know what happened? God spoke to me. He is so merciful in how He gently guides me to what I need to be learning. I didn’t just read that one verse. I have been reading the whole chapter. And another verse jumped out at me.
Philippians 4:9
“The things which you learned and received and head and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you.”
Wow. How awesome is that? Not only was Paul saying do what I have taught you but do what you have seen me do. It wasn’t just a “do as I say, not as I do” instruction. Paul meditated on what was noble and just and lovely and pure. Can I do that? Can I look at my children and say, “Do as you have seen me do.” I think they have done as they have seen me do. And I don’t like it very much. Their attitudes, their disrespect, and their frustration with simple things they learned from me. Who are they with all day? Me. Who gets frustrated with a simple math struggle? Me. Who gets upset over the spilled water? Me. Who sometimes is whiny about not being able to go do this or that? Me.
Yep, that mirror was pretty dirty. Not a very nice image of myself was showing. A dirty reflection of the love and mercy of the Father. Forgive me, Lord. Help me clean the mirror and make my reflection shine. Help me show my kiddos how to clean up their mirrors and shine, too.
How’s your mirror looking today?
