For better or for worse, the people around us are influenced by us. I was trying to teach my three year old granddaughter about family relationships. I asked her: "Who is mommy's abba?" She paused for a few seconds, looking into space, and then said, "The Lord." She had heard from her mother that "the Lord is our Abba." There surely wasn't any theological discussion with her about it, just the personal example of a young mother allowing her daughter to imitate her faith.
I read a very touching story on the internet about a four year old boy who had a stroke as an infant and since then suffered from cerebral palsy. The doctors told his parents that he would never walk, but little Finlay learned to walk through the example of a duck.
Finlay's family had adopted Ming-Ming the duck after a farmer told his mother that he'd have to put the duck down because it had a bad leg. The family took Ming-Ming to a vet who put the leg in a sling and gave it physiotherapy. Little Finlay had been to physiotherapy all his life but had not progressed. When he saw the duck slowly recovering as it took steps despite the sling, Finlay began to mimic the duck. He told his mom, "I walk like the duck, Mommy." According to the internet report, Finlay is walking five meters at a time with the help of a walker-and all because of the example of a duck.
We are never too old, too young, too inexperienced, too new in faith, or anything else to be a witness, because what counts is our personal example of a life conducted in love, faith, and purity. As we stay close to the Lord and attentive to the word of God, our lives will shine and our example will rub off on those around us. Even a duck can be used to change a life.
"In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
- 14 NOVEMBER -