Little Pitchers
Dan Kunz
Have you ever noticed how people who have been married for some time begin to develop some of the same mannerisms? It’s true not just of married couples, but anybody who spends a fair amount of time around someone else. My mom used to sit with her elbow on the arm of her chair and her hand casually in the air. I’m told I do the same thing. Another relative has gone through some prolonged physical pain in the past year. He sometimes puffs his cheeks out and exhales through pursed lips. I recently found myself breathing the same way when I was having some pain. Whether we realize it or not, human beings many times subconsciously copy those around them.
You may be familiar with the expression, “Little pitchers have big ears.” The point of that old saying is that children may be listening, so be careful what you say. I’m sure more than one little kid learned some “salty language” from an older brother, cousin, or uncle! The same thing is true of our actions, and it’s not just kids who mimic those around them. Sometimes adults pick up the habits of others, as well. With that in mind, we, as Christians, should be extra careful of how we conduct ourselves - our language, our actions, the places we go, who we associate with and so on. Some things which others see or hear from us, may not be a big deal to imitate, but others are. Using inappropriate language, losing one’s temper, gossiping, telling a “white” lie, or having one too many cocktails, can all serve as a bad example for others to follow.
On the other hand, serving as a good example is something for which we should strive so others follow that lead. When we don’t take God’s name in vain, when we don’t lose our temper, when we refuse to stretch the truth, or when we limit our alcohol consumption, that also is noticeable, and, hopefully, copied by those around us, kids and adults alike. “Be like Mike” is a good thing, as long as Mike’s motto is, “Be like Jesus”!
Over the years it’s become obvious that others watch what we do and say even when we’re not aware of it ourselves. In a well-known scene from the movie, Jaws, the dad, played by Roy Scheider, is sitting and making a variety of faces as he ponders a problem. He slowly becomes aware that his young son, sitting nearby and watching him intently, is trying to make the exact same faces he’s making. He turns to his son and continues to make faces, while his son is still imitating him, until they both break out laughing. Little pitchers…
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. We usually think of that imperative from Solomon (God) in terms of the actual training which we, as parents or grandparents, give, but it also applies to how we live our lives. Former NBA star, Charles Barkley, once said, “I shouldn’t be your kids’ role model, you should be.” As Christians, we should all be role models, just as Jesus is for us!