Who’s Following Your Lead?

May 5, 2008

By Christina Quick

My 9-year-old daughter recently became a grandma. More accurately, she played the part of a grandmother at the local theater in a ballet production of “Little Red Riding Hood.”

She’s been taking dance lessons since she was in kindergarten. In her first production, she was a ballerina puppy. It was a small role, but she looked so cute with her painted nose, plush ears and tiny tutu I hardly noticed the other dancers.

Since that time, she has been a teddy bear (twice), a duckling, a circus clown, an angel, a blustery wind and a raindrop. In those early performances, she and the other young students always appeared onstage with an older girl. If they forgot their moves, the little ones would look to the lead dancer to see what they were supposed to do next.

This time, my daughter had the spotlight to herself as she performed her first solo dance. As I watched her rehearsing, it occurred to me how quickly she is maturing — not just in ballet, but also in life. I briefly wondered what she would be like when she is old enough to be a real grandmother, navigating life on her own.

“Mom,” she often tells me, her brown eyes radiating affection, “when I grow up, I want to be just like you.”

The sweet sentiment never fails to make me smile. Imagine, someone wanting to be like me! What a gift parenting is. And what a responsibility. I’m constantly reminded that if my children are following my lead, I’d better stay on my toes. I pray that my example will not be out of step with God’s character.

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Even if you don’t have children at home, chances are someone is watching you. Perhaps it’s a co-worker, a neighbor, a relative or someone who sits beside you at church. They’re looking to you to see how a Christian lives, talks, loves and reacts under pressure. Is your example leading them toward a closer relationship with Christ? Or are there areas of sin and compromise that may result in missteps for those who are following your lead?

Through your life and example, you have the potential to impact countless people. Pray that God will help you model His Word so that others will understand His truth and mature into Christlike leaders themselves.

— Christina Quick is staff writer for Today’s Pentecostal Evangel and blogs at Refrigerator Art (cquick.agblogger.org).