love like that

Even though it’s been 5 years since the photo above, I can tell you what is happening there. I caught Sam in the act of copying his daddy. What a moment! But Sam won’t look at the camera. I have several shots with his back to me. And so this photo displays beautifully two things. 1. We copy our parents and learn. 2. We humans are stubborn. 

This verse in Ephesians sums up our marching orders. Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Ephesians 5:1-2 The Message)

Sounds easy. Lives hard. 

I have examples of my kids learning not so proper behavior from me. Once we noticed a child of ours using a phrase “oh my gosh” frequently. We worked with him pointing out when he used it. We asked him to replace it with something else. Then, I started realizing he learned it from me. I said that phrase constantly. Guess who had to break the habit?

Emulating Jesus is much less confusing. When I read the gospels, I am fascinated by what Jesus did and how he responded to people. He bent to write in the dirt when the Pharisees brought him a woman caught in adultery. He acted like he was journeying farther with the men on the road to Emmaus. He retreated to a private place by the lake. 

His love was not cautious but extravagant. I’m pretty sure mine is often calculating and quid pro quo. The more I reflect on his behavior and his responses, the more I fall in love with him. It’s that love that will change my behavior. 

I want to love like that.