What kind of shadow do you cast?

I work at a secular company. This company has one of the best cultures I have ever experienced. It is amazing how many times I have sat through a corporate meeting, and then left thinking, "Man, I feel like I've been to church!" They have a phrase that they frequently ask and it is, "What is the shadow that you cast?".  As a mom, I have begun to ponder this question for my own children while also thinking about the shadows that I followed as a young child and young woman.

Last Sunday, Easter Sunday, we gave our younger boys the option of attending "big church" with us or going into Children's church.  Both of them opted to attend "big church".  As the worship time began, my heart was moved, as it often is by the worship time.  I found myself with my hands raised in praise as I sang loudly and probably off key.  All of a sudden, I opened my eyes and saw Titus (our 7-year old) standing beside me with his hands raised in worship.  He was watching my every move when my hands went down, his went down; if my hands were partially raised, his were partially raised; and on it went for the entire service.  He was observing corporate worship by my side.

In my prayer time today, I came across the following verse:

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."  -Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)

The phrase "be imitators of God, as beloved children" has played over and over in my head today.  We are to follow God's shadow.  We are to be in his word, following Him, and learning at his feet.  Titus may not have fully understood why he was raising his hands or the complete significance of the music we were singing that morning.  However, someday he will.  Hopefully, he will look back and remember learning at the feet of Pete and I.  The shadows that we as parents cast will have lasting impact and possibly eternal significance in the lives of our children and hopefully someday grandchildren.