Our children are created in our image, with similar physical features, and often with similar personality traits. It’s remarkable to look at family members and consider similar characteristics – whether it’s eye color, the shade of hair, or the shape of a face. Someone once remarked about our 3 children, “Any two look similar, but you add in the third child, whichever one that may be, and there’s no doubt that they are siblings, even with their different features.” These traits and features are all reminders that we belong to someone.
Christie, who is gracious enough to let me share here today, is spending time with her family as they finalize their adoption this week – what a beautiful choice their family has made! I’ve known several families who have adopted, and do you know what I’ve seen in each of those families? The longer the child is with their forever family, the more they begin to act, and sometimes even look like, their forever parents. That’s because they are spending time together, walking through life together, and the child will do as the parents do. Talk about a precious gift from God…this amazes me every time! God truly gives good gifts! Just as we have physical traits and features similar to our earthly parents, we, as children of God, should have traits that reflect our Heavenly Father. What should we look like, as children of God? How should our lives be characterized? The Bible has such a beautiful description of lives that are filled by God. They are referred to as the fruit of the Spirit – evidence of a life filled with the Spirit of God.
As we seek to follow God, our Heavenly Father, our lives should exhibit more of these traits. This is a very simple truth, and one that many of us, as Christians, have heard many times. However, as I look at my own life, I know that I can use this reminder. Sometimes we tend to overlook the simpler truths because we know them – deep in our hearts. I find it’s good to take a step back sometimes, when life gets full, and get back to the basics – the simple truths of who we are in God. And that’s why I love this passage so much – it’s a specific reminder of how my life should look. How can we develop more of these traits in our lives? By spending time with Jesus – reading the Bible & meditating on Scripture, praying – both sharing our needs and requests, but also taking time to listen to what God has to say to us, spending time in worship. Doing those things will help develop and strengthen our relationship with God. As we spend more time with God, we will continue to develop traits that cause us to look more like our heavenly Father.
As we look on our children, who so often look and act very much the way we do, remember that God is looking on our lives. I hope that He can see that I look like Him, that my life is a reflection of Him!
Rebekah and her husband live in the eastern United States. She is a homeschooling mother to their three children, including one with special needs. She has followed her God-given call to writing and encouraging women. Her purpose is to support women in their various roles. She offers encouragement for real life, and a place of respite for when life becomes overwhelming. She shares her perspective on everyday life because it’s in the realities of life that common bonds are found. You can find her at her blog, on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
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