Sometimes I can’t stop myself from laughing out loud when I see my son acting in certain situations exactly like I did at the same age. and often it is not things that I’ve talked to him about previously. No, he sees how I deal with certain situations and does exactly the same.

Every relationship is different. Every man and woman act differently towards their spouse. But it’s not so good to see children act in exactly the same way in their relationships with the opposite sex.

In the relationship of friends of ours who are married, the man and woman do not act visibly lovingly towards one another. I’ve actually not seen the woman touch the man – not that there’s something wrong with their marriage. That’s just the way they are. But now their daughter acts just like that towards the opposite sex. She shows no emotion, which can easily be interpreted in a negative way. But she’s never seen how it’s done. She doesn’t know any other way.

When you see this, you realise what a big responsibility you have to live right. A good friend of mine always jokes and says: “Don’t do what I do; do what I say.” He jokes, because he knows it doesn’t work like that. People look at what you do and then do the same.

People have been misled so much by what others say that they simply no longer want to do what others say. But they will think twice when they see what you say is what you do. What you do is much more impressive than what you say.

Timothy was so privileged in that his grandmother and mother went ahead and he could simply follow in their footsteps: ⁵That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you!

I wonder whether Timothy would’ve gone in this direction if his grandmother and mother hadn’t shown him where to go? Lois and Eunice may not have been preachers and people who had led others to the Lord, but the result of their actions was that they had helped one of the younger preachers of that time to start off in the right direction. The way that these two women had lived had an enormous impact on Christianity.

The fact that I’m walking this road today can also to a large extent be attributed to the fact that my mom and dad had gone ahead. My mom showed me what it meant to hold onto God at all times. She didn’t talk much.

When I look in the mirror at my own life, I wonder in what direction I’m helping my son and daughters. Will they write me a thank-you letter one day, thanking me for everything that I showed them, because otherwise they wouldn’t have been where they are, following in God’s footsteps? And I’m talking about all the little things too now. How often have they seen me with my Bible open before me and how often with my eyes closed in prayer?

To live life right is a huge responsibility. Whether we want to admit it or not, our children, other people’s children and other people use our actions as their blueprint. They don’t always know what to do. They don’t even know what questions to ask. So, they look to see what you do. It’s easier, and then they do the same.

I am, because dad Gerjo and mom Helmine did it that way.

Scripture
2 Tim 1:5-7

Reflection
For whom are you a roadmap?
What does the road that you are leading them on look like?
Do you have to make any adjustments?

Prayer
Father, I realise once again what an enormous responsibility I have to lead in the right way. I know I don’t always succeed in doing so. Father, please help me to follow right behind You, because then I know the others can follow too. Amen.