The Smoking Litterbug: Impressions of a 3-Year-Old

Sometimes we don’t realize the impressions we are leaving on little ones. Our example is extremely important.

As my granddaughter and I stopped at the red light, I glanced in the rearview mirror. My granddaughter was looking out the window to her right at the man in the car next to ours. She announced, “I don’t like him; he smokes. Look, he threw it out the window. He’s a litterbug!”

My granddaughter will be 4 in a couple of months, so I was surprised that these things made such a strong impression on her. If a stranger can leave a bad impression, what type of impression have I left on this little one?

Words

As adults, we must watch the words we use around little ones. They repeat what they hear often. Foul language, name calling and derogatory comments should never come out of our mouths. We don’t always know when little ears are listening, taking these words into their little minds to pour out of their little mouths at the most inopportune time.

As parents, grandparents, friends and family, our words should be uplifting, encouraging and complimentary. Words of correction should not be used to make little ones feel demeaned; they should be used to instruct and explain with love.

As Christians, our words must show a reflection of God to the little ones around us.

Actions

As adults, we must be mindful of our actions around little ones. Do we live what we learn by reading God’s words and hearing His messages at church on the Sabbath? “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

Our examples in the presence of little ones are paramount. We are called to be lights to the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are watched as we live our lives, and we must be mindful that little eyes see what we are doing and will copy our actions, leaving us embarrassed if the example hasn’t demonstrated God’s standards.

Trustworthy

A definition of trust in the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus reads: “Complete assurance and certitude regarding the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something.” As adults, we must be dependable to these little ones. We should be reliable, and our character must be one of truth.

Consider the example of Jesus Christ’s trust in God the Father. Christ was willing to go through a terrible beating and death, knowing that He would be raised from the dead to sit at the right hand of the Father.

Jesus told His disciples, “And they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 17:23). Jesus believed fully, and the Father did not let Him down. And God does not want us to let little ones down.

Spiritual little ones

Take a moment to think on these three things. We can apply these to the little ones in our lives and also to the little ones (God’s newly called ones) in the Church. Our words and actions should help them appreciate and trust the new way to which they have been called, so that they can grow into mature Christians to help nurture future little ones.

The smoking litterbug did not know the impression he left on my granddaughter. But the words that she said to me when we pulled away from the light made a big impression on me: “I’m glad we don’t smoke or litter, Grandmommy.”

Chant’a Collier attends the Atlanta, Georgia, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, with her husband, Rodney. The couple enjoys spending time with their five grandchildren: Davian, Taliyah, Terrell, Justin and Dylan.

For more about little ones and our Christian example, see:

• The Power of Positive Expectations and Encouragement
• Even Total Strangers Are Watching You
• Remembering God—With the Help of a 5-Year-Old