Follow the leader
At just about any given time of day, there is a distinct echo in our house. It comes from our two-year-old daughter, who is bound and determined to say and do everything just like her older brother. So, if Micah wants to play the piano, Mia decides it should be a duet. If Micah says he wants to play with Legos, he’ll soon have a building partner. Or if Micah is getting ready to head to preschool and puts on his backpack… well, Mia wants to have one on, too (even though she isn’t yet in preschool). They have become quite the pair.
A few days ago, I walked into the room to discover both kids were crying. When I asked Micah why he was crying, he told me he dropped something on his foot, and it hurt. While attempting to console him, I asked Mia why she was crying. Her response: “I don’t know! Micah’s crying!” She had no idea what happened to Micah, only that he was crying… so she needed to, as well.
This is a pretty common occurrence in our home. If Micah laughs, most of the time she has no idea what’s funny, but she’ll break into giggles right along with him. If Micah slows down for a minute, Mia assumes it’s time for her to sit, too. And, you guessed it, if Micah loves something—a new toy, favorite food, or stuffed animal—she loves it just the same.
Of course, we hope with time and development, Mia will discover her own expressions of emotion or her unique tastes and interests. But I’ve come to find something sort of beautiful about Mia’s copying of her big brother. She doesn’t need to ask any questions in order to follow his lead. She’s not insistent on a different or better way but deeply trusting of his example.
I wonder if this is the sort of thing Jesus had in mind when he told his disciples, “A new commandment I give to you. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” There’s no clarifying questions needed. No added details or specifics about when or where this applies. Jesus says simply, “Just do what I do. Love one another.”
Sometimes our humanness gets in the way, and we try to add stipulations or conditions to this commandment from God. We try to imply that some are more worthy of love or belonging than others. But Jesus spells it out pretty simply. Follow his lead. Love unconditionally. Console others who grieve. Encourage those who struggle. What more information do you need?
Maybe we could all stand to behave a bit more like a two-year-old. Imitators of Christ in a very similar way. Eager to join in. Taking action first, and asking questions later. Just joyfully following the lead toward love.
