Learning How to Be Noble Requires Noble Examples

Look at this! Harriet the eagle mama shows up with a huge fish while M15, daddy eagle, is feeding Junior (E9). M15 squawks while feeding Junior, because his fish is old, and Harriet has a big, juicy, whole, fresh fish. Harriet enjoys a few bites, then glances at M15. As Junior looks on, Harriet feeds M15. I could cry with joy over these sweet partners!

Then, Harriet pulls off chunks for M15, which he subsequently feeds to Junior. Junior is taking all this in, watching his parents with eagle eyes. (haha).

THIS is how decent, loving behavior is passed on from generation to generation. When love, compassion, selflessness is modeled, the children are watching, and learning. Hopefully, they are absorbing it so that they will grow up to be magnificent wonderful eagles like their parents.

I thought about the women who chose life over abortion that I work with through Cities4Life. So many of those sweet young women have horrible role models. It doesn't surprise me that they come to the abortion center without hope or understanding of how they can possibly make another choice.

Most of them grew up without a father in the home. Many have siblings from several different dads. Most grew up with at least sporadic attendance at church, yet Biblical morals such as abstinence outside of marriage, committed marriage before starting a family, sanctity of life, and selfless sacrifice for the good of the family are not taught or lived. Most know the basics of the Gospel, but don't really understand the life-changing truths of a relationship with God that should and could transform their behavior and their lives. Concepts such as obedience to God, true life-altering repentance for sin, and seeking God with all their heart and mind does not seep into their soul because it wasn't modeled. The incredible love God demonstrated in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin does not fill them with a deep desire to please God with their actions. This is not true of all the women I have worked with, but it is true of a good number of them.

I am so excited about Cities4Life partnering with Love-Life Charlotte to develop a mentorship program for these young women. How can these young women be strong, moral, and Godly examples to their children if they have no idea what it looks like?

I thought of the baby eagle. What would happen if his parents left him on his own? Would he figure out how to be an eagle if he had no idea what an eagle could be...or should be?

We who know Jesus have an incomparable gift to share. If we can model the transformative power of Christ in us to those at risk for abortion, maybe all these abortion centers would close! My work as a sidewalk counselor would come to an end. It's a job I would be okay having to give up for lack of customers. Especially because then I would have more time to watch the eagles...
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1 Corinthians 11:1 

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

1 Timothy 4:12 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Ephesians 5:3-7 

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them;

Ephesians 6:4 

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.