Shadow in the Grass

This morning, I woke up with a thousand things to do as we prepared for a family trip to Arkansas. Since the grass, I mean weeds, have needed mowing for the past three weeks, I decided to attack them prior to hitting the road. I had finished about half of the yard when I noticed my 4-year old running to the garage to get his plactic lawn mower, and he proceeded to be my "shadow in the grass". He stopped when I would stop, he turned when I would turn, and completely followed my every move because he wanted to be just like dad. There are lots of things I hope he learns from me, but also lots of things I need to be aware that he IS learning from me, whether I want him to or not. Attitudes, reactions, treatment of friends, handling of difficult situations are all things that he will try to handle just like me. Wow ... that's pressure. The words of the Phillips, Craig, and Dean song come to mind- "Lord, I want to be just like You, 'cause he wants to be just like me ...".