My Parent Lives in Me

As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed more and more of my parents’ traits coming out of me.  For example, I’ve been told I’m quite a taskmaster toward myself, that I’m ultra-responsible, and that I seem to go to any lengths to stand by my word.  In all of those things, I see my parents.  It’s now become my voice rather than theirs telling me “a day’s work for a day’s pay,” “if it’s worth doing it’s worth doing right,” “you’re only as good as your word.”  And behind all of that is the question my parents often posed to me, “What if everyone did it, would it be a better world?”  In those formative years, when my parents were raising me, coaching me, forming me, I heard their words, but I never dreamed they were becoming so entrenched in my own thinking, my own worldview, my own way of treating myself.  But taking a moment for a bit of introspection I see it clearly, my parent lives in me.

Thinking about issues of character in that way has helped me appreciate the ways God is at work in my life and yours.  When Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3:3) that he (we) must be born again, it’s getting at establishing a new “parent” in us.  When Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), he’s describing our new Parent’s character traits becoming more naturally part of who we are.  Through the scriptures, worship, Christian fellowship, prayer, God sets about raising, coaching, and forming His children.  As time goes by God’s words become more entrenched in our own thinking and our own worldview.  It’s not brainwashing.  It’s spiritual heredity.

As I marvel at that process taking place in the life of any individual I can’t help but ask the question often posed to me, “What if everyone did it, would it be a better world?”  I think that’s the plan, actually.