Earlier this year, a scene with a sweater emerged while I was staying with my grandchildren. I do not quite share the early-bird energy of the kids, so I arrived at the breakfast table one morning with the family already dressed and eating. For the chilly day, I had put on a high-necked cozy white sweater. My sweater would not rank a fashion designer label: I am sure it’s more likely what the fictional Runway fashion magazine editor (Meryl Strep) called “that lumpy blue sweater” found in a “clearance bin,” a classic scene from the original “The Devil Wears Prada” movie (2006).
As I savored my coffee and toasted homemade bread, I did not notice my almost 5-year-old granddaughter slip away from the table. She returned to breakfast several minutes later having changed her outfit, a challenging habit her mother tolerates. I still wasn’t alert enough to notice what actually happened until my daughter pointed out, “She put on a white sweater to match you.” Sure enough, she too was now wearing a warm white sweater and dark pants. Her sweater was more of a wrap style so she added a white shirt underneath to maintain the overall look. I could not believe she had noticed me … and that she wanted to match her Nana for the day! Later, as that day wound down, I pointed out to my granddaughter, who had surprisingly not changed outfits again, that we had both spilled red spaghetti sauce on our white sweaters!
They are watching. It is a huge understatement. It might be your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews or others in your circle of acquaintances and sometimes even total strangers who observe our behaviors and attitudes. Being watched is an opportunity to display faithful living, if you follow Jesus. But the responsibility runs risk too. You could poorly represent a life of faith, just when someone was watching and thinking of matching you. Sobering.
This morning, I was mulling over this blog post and wondering about a Scripture to use. Not surprisingly, a fitting verse came in a devotional email today:
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5 v 1
God’s Word is always in perfect style.
