What a productive day, Father! Thank You for the ability to get my head together and to make some good progress both this morning and then this evening of Sunday’s sermon. You are the originator of it all! Praise Your Holy Name!

Luke 11:1 (<<click to read the passage)

Alright, this one’s a little more out there than normal. I will say that I enjoy all kinds of music and, though I don’t necessarily listen to it regularly, I enjoy country music, too. But first…

I read the first verse of Luke 11 and the first thing that popped into my head was how Jesus praying caught the attention of one of his disciples, prompting him to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus’ example had an impact.

Whether we want to deal with the ramifications or not, people watch us. If it is known that we wear the name “Christian”, much of what we say and do is put under the microscope by those around us. Many want to see what being a believer looks like in us. And they can be impacted for Jesus…or against the faith we claim to hold.

I worked at Kohl’s for 18 years. I am so grateful that I am no longer there. But – and this is a huge “but” – I may not miss the job, but I so miss my friends, and truly I would count many of them as family. I have seen a few of them in the year and a half since I left but I’ve not seen enough of them. And those I have seen; our time together has not been nearly as long as I would have liked.

Right up front, people knew who I was. I didn’t crack anybody over the head with my Bible, but they knew Who I belonged to. I was by no means perfect, but I strove every day to be true to my faith by reflecting my Lord in everything I said and did. I got angry on occasion. I griped about leadership and working conditions far too often, but I hope, and most importantly I pray, that the life I lived before them, shown clear and bright with the light of Christ’s love.

Going back to country music…when I read that first verse and associated Jesus praying with the impact it had on his watching disciple, I knew I had heard at least one song about kids watching their dads and wanting to be just like them.

The song I found in my searching is one by Rodney Adkins, I have no idea where he stands in his relationship with God but I would dare say with a song like the one I’m going to share, he has to have a relationship of some sort. It’s fun but straightforward in communicating the good, and the bad, that we pass on to our children – because like it or not, they are watching.

Here is the official video for the song “Watching You” and for your convenience, I’ve included the lyrics at the end, as well.

Driving through town, just my boy and me
With a happy meal in his booster seat
Knowing that he couldn’t have the toy
‘Til his nuggets were gone

A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath
As fries went a flying and his orange drink covered his lap

Well, then my four year old said a four letter word
That started with “S” and I was concerned
So I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to talk like that?”

He said, “I’ve been watching you, dad, ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we dad?
I wanna do everything you do
So I’ve been watching you”

We got back home, and I went to the barn
I bowed my head, and I prayed real hard
Said, “Lord, please help me help my stupid self”

Then this side of bedtime later that night
Turning on my son’s Scooby Doo night light
He crawled out of bed, and he got down on his knees

He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
And spoke to God like he was talking to a friend
And I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to pray like that?”

He said, “I’ve been watching you, dad, ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
We like fixing things and holding mama’s hand
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we, dad?
I wanna do everything you do
So I’ve been watching you.”

With tears in my eyes, I wrapped him in a hug
Said, “My little bear is growing up”
He said, “But when I’m big, I’ll still know what to do”

“‘Cause I’ve been watching you, dad, ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
Then I’ll be as strong as Superman
We’ll be just alike, hey, won’t we, dad?
When I can do everything you do
‘Cause I’ve been watching you”

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Brian White / Rodney Adkins / Steve Dean
Watching You lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

June 4th, 2020, Thurs, 8:00 pm