Behaving as we were raised is a pretty common concept. I mean, we all know we get our manners, or lack of them, from how we were raised. We were either constantly prodded to say the appropriate 'pleases' and 'thank you's', or we weren't. We either were told to set the table, make our bed, feed the pet, go help mom, go help dad, or we weren't. Our posture, jitteriness, facial expressions, outfits we wore, talking, mattered - or it didn't. Or any OTHER level between the degree's mentioned.
Our upbringing largely reflects who we are as adults.
We even pick up subconscious traits. Perhaps how we laugh. Gesture. Stand. Walk. React to anything and everything. Plenty of our upbringing nuances reflect in us.
Just the other day I overheard my daughter give my grandson an affirmation to his good behavior using the EXACT phrase I would use with she and her brother when I was raising them. I must say, it left a lump in my throat, and had me whispering 'oh thank you, I did something right'. And yet - I'm sure there are many (if any -*cough*cough*) bad examples I passed along as well. Surelyyyyy nothing worth mentioning here. Haha....
My point being - basically, as the saying goes, 'what goes around - comes around'. Good and bad. Naturally the tendency is to try to improve upon the last go around. And so on, and so on.
Parenthood is very defined by this principle. We try to reflect what we found, or learned, in our parents to be worthy. And what was unbecoming - to fade away, and not stay strong in our lives. Right?
Well, our ultimate parenthood example is in God (if we're his son's and daughters, thru believing in the scriptures - and that Christ is who he says he is).
As God's children we should, need, must reflect Him accurately. I'm not saying become all legalistic and jumping through a bunch of christianese hoops. All the so called 'politically correct' Christian do's and don'ts. No, not a bunch of iron rules. (Although some of us were raised in that type of environment. Either at home, or thru a misguided or abusive ministry).
What I'm talking about is - we need to act how our daddy (our Heavenly Father) would want us to act. To be. Feel. Think. -and Act willingly, not as a puppet. The obedience by choice because we love him, and trust His motive for us. He wants such good things for us! Mostly, the ability to encounter - anything he allows into our lives - with a 'I can handle this, with God's help' mindset. The automatic pilot in our hearts that guides us to 'what does my Father say about this? What should I do?'
And then - react to our upbringing of behaving like His children.
I don't need to make a list of all the possible 'bad' attributes we have picked up along our lives journeys. No doubt one or more, or many more, are coming to your mind. - What I WOULD like to say is; do we respond with the right attitude to our every day things? Do we act kindly towards strangers. Do we smile in traffic instead of curse. Do we ask our loved ones, neighbors, anyone - if they could use our help. Do we tell people how awesome Jesus is to us, and use communication they can understand - instead of confusing them with a bunch of 'thee's' & 'thou's'? Do we do what we know we should do, or do we ignore that twinge in our hearts? - It's all quite simple.
I think God allowed me to overhear my daughter, the other day, to remind me what a beautiful feeling it is - to hear a wonderful trait being passed along. It truly was beautiful.
He longs to feel that way about 'us'. He wants that 'wow! They took what I say to heart, and passes it along! Good job!' - feeling. He deserves it! He paid the ultimate high price for it.
So next time you could have a 'reaction' - let it be a positive 'action' of behaving how you're being raised by Him. He shows us. We just need to reflect the same traits.
