“Stop copying me!” My oldest daughter yelled from across the kitchen table. I was busy chopping kale into a salad while the girls smooshed and cut balls of play dough into their own flattened piles of green. As usual, little sister was mimicking everything big sister was doing.

“Why does she do that?” My frustrated girl asked, as I turned to intervene.

“Because you matter,” I empathetically replied. “You matter so much sissy wants to be just like you.” And that’s when it struck me, as they returned to their salad making and I to mine.

We’re all copying someone.

We’re all in positions to influence and be influenced, to follow and be followed. Especially as women and mothers. The apostle Paul understood this more than anyone, which is why he told the believers at Corinth, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul knew how closely these early Christians watched Him. He discerned the influential role he had in their lives, and instead of running from it, he embraced it fully. Paul did so because as much as he was leading, he also knew he needed to be led. As much as they copied him, he needed to copy Christ, to pattern his life after the life of Jesus.

The roles we play in our children’s lives and in others too can be overwhelming at times. We can feel inadequate, uncertain, even frustrated with ourselves. But if we look to Jesus, He will provide the reassurance we need. If we wait on Him, He will supply wisdom, patience, confidence, and direction. There’s no better place to be, after all, than following Jesus closely step by step. If our daughters and sons see us doing that, and if they see how much Jesus means to us, we’ll be leading them well no matter how imperfect we feel.

*First published by The Joyful Life Magazine.