Our kids see us.

They hear us.

They mimic us.

They wanna be like us ... to an extent.

Nothing has made this more clear to me than my 5-year-old grabbing my pick-it-up-every-now-and-then devotional and writing all over one of the pages.

And what a page and topic she picked.

One devoted to "HUMANNESS."

So poignant that the page she chose to leave her handwriting all over — "like you do, Mama!" — was all about human beings being imperfect and flustered and frazzled and reminding us not to get upset with ourselves over it.

About how we can feel overwhelmed then scold ourselves for feeling that way, when really what we need to be doing is being God's voice in our own head, encouraging and supporting ourselves (and, really, each other too).

"Slow down your pace of living," this piece instructs, and do that we must.

I must.

Because it is when I slow down, I remember that my children SEE ME.

ALL THE TIME.

They see me doing healthy things, like reading my "Jesus book," as they like to call it, taking notes on what it's teaching me, and trying to live those values in our home and out in "the real world."

They see me making sure I get exercise and eat healthy.

They see me being kind to others and volunteering my time or a listening ear.

But they also see when I do ungodly and unhealthy things like,

berate other drivers on the road,

indulge in an extra glass of wine and treat food like it's a reward,

not return our grocery cart to its proper location,

be selfish,

and lack compassion and grace and judge others.

So it's time for me just to be a bit more mindful of the example I'm setting ... of the model I'm being.

Knowing that I'll screw up because I've got that humanness thing going for me, but that I'm wholly capable of owning my mishaps and using them to help me grow, as are we all.

None of us is a "bad example" because we're not perfect. I'm choosing to believe that we're terrific examples for our kids because we're not perfect — just like they aren't. Just like none of us will ever be.

My kids are in good company because they are in MY company, and the fact that God thought me the right flawed person to love and care for these humans is proof of such.

And THAT, my friends, well, it gives me peace.