I was blessed to play one season of basketball with my hero, two-time Olympic Captain, Naismith Award Winner, first female Globetrotter…Lynette Woodard. The first day I practiced with her, I tried to do everything like she did. I stayed after practice with her and as she touched the rim ten times and made ten free throws in a row, I touched the backboard ten times and made five free throws in a row (It was a start!). I even went so far as to get my hair permed into a curly white-girl’s afro … anything to be like Lynette.

I was a young believer in college and was learning more and more Scripture in my FCA huddle meetings; one day we came across Ephesians 5:1–2. How could I imitate God? My Huddle Leader said that the Bible never contained commands (for instance, “Be imitators of God”) without giving practical how-to’s. We can find some guidelines for imitating God in Ephesians 4. First and foremost, start with asking Christ into your heart and allow His Holy Spirit to transform you into the creation He has designed you to be! So many times we lie to make ourselves look better or to get what we want, when the truth will set us free. Don’t speak hurtful words, but only words that build others up. This instruction covers ugly words like curse words, but also gossip and trash talk. A kind word can accomplish so much more than words meant to hurt. Finally, be kind and compassionate, because God forgave you. This is the final and most important commandment.