Mowing That Lawn

While driving yesterday, I caught sight of a heart-warming scene.  A man was mowing the grass in his front yard.  That in itself was not an unusual thing to see.  But what brought a smile to my face was his little boy, probably about three years old.  This boy industriously pushed a large plastic cart back and forth accross the turn, glancing occasionally at dad from his "work."  The riding toy had a handle at the back gripped tightly by the youngster.  Tongue sticking out in a concentrated effort, the boy was completely absorbed in mowing the lawn.  Some would say the boy was not actually "doing" anything.  It's true that his train toy was completely ineffective at cutting grass.  But the boy was doing something.  Best he could, he was working with his dad - and teaching me a lesson as well!

It is natural that this boy would delight in emulating his father.  Doing something like dad was fun in itself, and it is a great joy to serve those you love.  I have heard imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case it would be truer to say imitation was the sincerest form of love and respect.  Small children are for a time incapable to dispense the sweet poison of flattery.  Boys with great dads don't only want to do what they do:  they want to be like them.  I have been blessed to have a grandpa, grandad, and a dad that I not only admired as a youngster, but I wanted to be like them when I grew up.  I still respect them and hold them in highest honour.

When we are adopted into the family of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, our eyes are opened to the awesomeness of our heavenly Father.  It is right for us to emulate Him in everything.  As children of God through the Gospel, we are made co-heirs with Christ as a brother and friend.  He is like the big brother we should always want to be like.  I started thinking about this little boy, feverishly pushing his cart across the grass.  A day will likely come when he will be taught to mow the lawn for real.  Someday that boy who has become a young man will grow tired of mowing the lawn.  He will put it off as a burdensome chore or even refuse to do it altogether.  This picture popped into my head of the greying dad mowing the lawn in his gumboots ten years from now, and the boy stayed at a friend's house, happy to avoid the chore he once did freely and happily as a child.

God, keep me young in heart as a child!  We must never see our service to the LORD as a burdensome task.  It is really God who does the work:  He pushes the real mower, and we are pushing our plastic toys.  But it pleases God profoundly when we joyfully work with sincerity of heart for His glory.  He no doubt smiles broadly when He looks over and sees us doing our best to emulate Him in thought, word, and deed.  That little boy wasn't being paid to copy his dad.  He took it upon himself to do, and his dad encouraged him in his efforts.  He didn't scorn the child for mowing the lawn improperly.  I can see it now:  the lawn mower and toy have been put away, and the father and son walking hand in hand to the house for a cold drink. "You were a good worker today, mate.  You did a fine job."  The boy looks up to the smiling face of his father and beams with satisfaction and profound joy.

Doesn't the thought of your Father saying that to you bring delight to your soul?  May we mature in faith, allowing Christ to live His life through us.  But may we retain the heart of a child with simplicity of love and utmost respect.  Let us look to our Father with our hands on the plow and worship Him!