“I just want to be like Jesus to my kids.”

Sandee Macgregor

September 24, 2025

This quote was shared with me a few years ago, and I had forgotten about it until this morning. I found it in my Bible in the notes on the margin. It had a profound impact on me, so I felt compelled to write it down. I thought to myself again after I read it, “So do I!” I am actually quite emotional as I write this today because of the importance of this statement. As believers, we are called to glorify the Lord, be his hands and feet, to serve others, forgive and love. As a mom, I have desired to honour God while parenting and be like Jesus day to day. On my own strength, that is an impossible task. With the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, we can. Romans 8:26 reminds us that we are weak, but the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

In John 14:26, we are also comforted,

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, intercedes when we have no words, just sighs, tears and silent prayer. The Holy Spirit, the Helper that has been given to us from the Father and will teach us all things and help us remember what we need to know.

Romans 8:26 says that we don’t know what to pray as we should, and that is a wonderful place of humility. We need help, Lord! Show us how to pray!

We also need to remember the word grace. Paul Tripp wisely reminds us of this beautiful word that we need to embrace: grace! In Tripp’s recent Wednesday’s Word – A Weekly Devotional From Paul Tripp, a few quotes stood out to me,

“Grace levels the playing field. It is what every human needs, no matter who they are or where they are. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor, the healthy and the sick, the popular and forgotten, the joyful and the downcast need grace.”

“Grace is the ultimate spiritual game changer. It is the one thing that has the power to change you and everything about you.”

“Grace explodes into your life in a moment and occupies you for all of eternity”.

“Grace is a gift you’ll never deserve but is always guaranteed.”

 “Grace is a Person, and his name is Jesus.”

I need this grace! It is there for you too! Read more here to understand about the grace of God from Got Questions!

I am reading through Matthew right now (where I wrote the quote down) and was reminded this morning in Matthew 6:8, “…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Our Heavenly Father knows what we need, that is, grace!

If I want to be more like Jesus to my kids (or anyone), to live a life filled with grace and compassion, I need Jesus. Perfection is not the goal. I know I am not perfect. But with the Holy Spirit as my guide, I can live out the fruit of the Spirit one situation at a time, one day at a time.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

The quote that initiated this post is from my husband! He encourages me to live out my faith and be more Christ-like as I watch him pursue Christ. He is a gift in my life that points me to Jesus. I am so grateful for him!

If we want to be more like Jesus, it all begins with opening the Bible, praying, and seeking him first, so that the overflow in our lives is life-giving and grace-filled. 

 

Grace Upon Grace Matthew West