Mimicking the Master
On a recent walk through town, Jason, Tess, and I encountered another dog walker along our usual route. In typical terrier fashion, Tess approached the other dog, exchanged the customary sniffs (you know, the canine equivalent of "How do you do?"), and then bounded over to the man. But before he could even reach down to pet her, she'd already turned tail and continued her journey, clearly satisfied that she'd fulfilled her social obligations for the moment.
Jason burst out laughing, nudging me with his elbow. "She gets that from you," he teased, and I couldn't help but chuckle because, well, he wasn't wrong. Like my furry friend, I too prefer to keep my social interactions brief and purposeful. Give me my quiet office with its book-lined walls or my peaceful garden over a crowded social gathering any day!
As we continued our walk, I pondered how Tess had picked up my introverted tendencies. It's fascinating how pets often mirror their owners' personalities. But then a deeper thought struck me. Aren't we, as Christians, supposed to mirror our Master?
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 2:21, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." Just as Tess has learned to copy my behaviors, we should be learning to copy Christ's.
Think about it. Jesus didn't just tell us how to live. He showed us. He demonstrated love by touching the untouchable. He illustrated service by washing His disciples' feet. He exemplified forgiveness by dying for those who crucified Him.
Sometimes, I wonder if people can see Christ in me as easily as they can see my traits in Tess. Do I reflect His compassion when dealing with difficult people? Do I mirror His patience when things don't go my way? Do I demonstrate His love when it's easier to walk away?
While being introverted isn't a sin (thank goodness!), I pray that people see more than just my social awkwardness in my daily life. I hope they see glimpses of Jesus in my actions, hear echoes of His words in my speech, and feel His love through my interactions—brief though they may be!
Perhaps today we could all take a moment to consider: What traits of our Master are we reflecting? Are we mimicking His love, grace, or forgiveness? After all, shouldn't we be as eager to copy Christ as my little terrier is to copy me?
Just remember, whether you're an introvert like Tess and me or the life of the party, what matters most is not our social preferences but how well we mirror the One who created us all.