Devotional # 1 (2 Corinthians 5:9)

One of our favorite pastimes with the grandsons is running the bird dogs on my sister-in-law's farm. It takes a lot of preparation. Case (5) and Cole (2 ½) watch as their dad, Trey, loads his dogs, Sam, Jet, Rock, and Boss into dog boxes on the mule. My son, Brin, and his 3 yr. old, Ike, have now become regulars in the ordeal...with little Ike following closely behind his mentor and cousin, Case.

These little boys watch and immolate their fathers and aim (most of the time) to please them. It reminds me of the country music song, "I've Been Watching You," by Rodney Atkins. It says (and I'm paraphrasing), "Dad, I've been watching you; I'm your buckaroo....I want to be like you....." Those little boys take it all in, good and bad! They run through the fields with the bird dogs, a clad in camouflage and boots...stumbling, falling, and getting back up to start all over again.....while constantly listening to the whistles and directions from Trey and Brin!

As "Daddy Ike" (that's me), and "Lindy" (my wife) watch from the truck (usually with 1 yr. old, Sam, Ike's little brother).....our 3 oldest, precious grandsons running through God's creation, we can't imagine it "getting any better than this!" I can't help but think of how we, as Christians, have the perfect role model in our Heavenly Father, and in Jesus, His Son! We need to start each day as Rodney Atkins says in his song, "Dad, I want to be like You!"Just as our grandsons strive to be like their daddies, our objective needs to be immolating Jesus Christ and pleasing Him in all that we do! 2 Corinthians 5:9 says, "So we make it our goal to please Him...." No greater role model can a man have than the LORD Jesus Christ!

Ike Hubbard