Like Mother, Like Daughter

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I was reading through Nancy Campbell's '100 Days of Blessings' this morning and, while I've read the entire Bible through from cover to cover several times, I was surprised to read a verse of scripture that Nancy shared. I was so surprised in fact, that I had to grab my Bible and look it up. I honestly don't ever remember seeing the verse before and I've been studying on it off and on all day.

Before I share the verse, I'd like to ask you a question....

What kind of mother are you?

Are you the kind of mother who, by example, leads her children along a path that grieves the Holy Spirit and  is strewn with the marks of the enemy...rebellion, defiance, selfishness, self-pity, half-truths, and "white lies"?

Or are you the kind of mother that leads your children along a path that is pleasing to the Lord? Do you walk in front of your children...leading by example?...giving them vision? ...inspiring them to greatness? ...motivating them to godliness? Do you encourage them to dream dreams and help them move toward realizing them? Do you stir them to fulfill the destiny that their Creator marked out for them from before the beginning of time?

The verse that Nancy shared is Ezekiel 16:44. It says, "...As is the mother, so is her daughter."

Clarke's Commentary puts it this way, "...As is the cause, so is the effect. As is the breeding, so is the practice. A silken purse cannot be made out of a swine's ear. What is bred in the bone seldom comes out of the flesh. All such proverbs show the necessity of early holy precepts, supported by suitable example."

Gill's Exposition says, "...an ancient and common proverb, used to express a likeness and agreement between persons their nature and disposition, in their behaviour, conduct, and conversation."

After reading all that, I ask you again, "What kind of mother are you?"