Father’s Day is no longer the celebration it used to be. This is the second year I’ve been through this holiday without my dad. I miss him terribly, but I have a lot of great memories to be thankful for.
Beyond that, I’m frequently told that I resemble him in some way. While he was still with us, it tickled him when folks would draw comparisons between us. It made him proud to see that I was following in his footsteps. Now that he’s gone, those comparisons help me feel closer to him and keep his memory strong.
This has also made me think about my heavenly Father.
You see, I love Him every bit as much as I love my earthly father. But I hadn’t thought much about how I resemble Him.
Until recently, I’d always squirmed uncomfortably when someone pointed out how they could see God in me. I shied away from the comparison because I was afraid that if I took joy in it I’d be giving in to pride. I couldn’t have been further away from the truth.
God loves it when others draw a parallel between Him and His children. When others see the resemblance, it’s not because I’m trying to take something from my heavenly Father, it’s because I’m becoming more like Him.
So every morning I’ve begun to ask God for these things:
· Give me eyes like Yours so I can see world in pain and be used to make it a better place.
· Give me hands like Yours, gentle but strong. I want to be capable of comforting those who are hurting and protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
· Give me feet like Yours. I need the stamina to walk out the tasks You’ve given me, and to carry those You’ve asked me to help.
· Most of all, give me a heart like Yours. I want my heart to beat in perfect rhythm with Yours, loving where You love, seeing potential, and reaching out to those others find unlovable.
So now when someone finds a resemblance between me and my Father, I smile, knowing that Abba is pleased someone else has noticed that I am becoming more and more like Him.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)
Edie Melson—author, blogger, and speaker—has a passion to help those who are struggling find the God-given strength they need to triumph through difficult circumstances. Connect with her at www.EdieMelson.com