Role Models

Pastor Jerry Steen tells a story about when he first started out in the ministry. He had to have a second job mixing feed for farm animals to supplement his income. Steen relates that each day when he came home from work, his two boys would look at him, smile, and would say, “Boy, dad, you sure are dusty!” He would reply, “Yes, I sure am dusty.” Then he’d go and get cleaned up.

He didn’t think too much of this until one day he was washing his car and saw his oldest son picking up the gravel and stones from the driveway and rubbing them into his pants. He asked his son, “What are you doing?” The boy replied, “I want to be dusty like you Dad!”

Steen’s story reminds me that we are all following someone. We learn from our parents, our family, our friends, and the people we admire. We pick up a lot – even unconsciously.

Today, it may be worth reflecting on who you look up to as a role model. Who do you truly admire? What are some of the traits you see in them that you would like to emulate? Likewise, it may also be worth reflecting on who it is that is looking up to you. What are some character traits you would like to pass along?

Late in his life, after he had matured deeply in the faith, the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Let us pray: God of Grace, draw us near to people who make this world a better place – people who reflect your love, kindness, and peace. May we learn from them, so that we too grow more and more into your likeness. Amen.