Introduce a newborn baby into a room of relatives or friends or even acquaintances and it doesn’t take long before the ‘who does he/she look like?’ conversations begin. (If you are in my family, the answer was always, always, ‘dad’.)
As children grow we point out the ways in which they are like us or someone we know: ‘you sound just like your ______!’; ‘I was just like that at your age.’ Or, if we don’t like their behavior, ‘you get that from your _____!’
We love to find similarities and connections with others that make us alike. Perhaps it validates our own characteristics, making us feel like we belong or that our contributions have made a difference. Perhaps we relate to one another more easily in our common traits. We certainly find it more comfortable to focus on our similarities than our differences. These commonalities are wonderful ways of binding us to our families-providing ties to our past and to our future-and weaving our stories together with common threads.
God does this with us, too, when He reminds us that we are created in His image. He told Moses that he was ‘in the similitude of mine Only Begotten,’ (Moses 1:6) pointing out his (and our) similarities and kinship with the Savior. Since He doesn’t need any validation for His characteristics, it can only be that He wants us to recognize the divine traits inherent in us that make us like Them; to feel those binding ties to our eternal family; to know we belong and have a part in that family history and future and present.
It is this family identity that is the most important of all, but we may forget to acknowledge and celebrate the ways in which we are like Them like we do with our earthly families. More than recognition as a ‘Rogers’ (or any other family name), as nice as that is, wouldn’t it be awesome to be recognized as Christ’s?
I have a son who is loyal to those he loves and loyal to the truth. Just like Jesus.
I have a daughter who seeks to do what is right always and finds joy in serving others. Just like Jesus.
I have a daughter who is a friend to the marginalized and looks beyond outward appearances. Just like Jesus.
I have a son who values obedience and is generous with his love. Just like Jesus.
I have a daughter who seeks to deeply understand others and is always available for them when she is needed. Just like Jesus.
We are His. Members of His eternal, covenant family, filled with common divine traits and potential. More than anything, I hope that’s what others see when they see us and what we will see in others when we look at them.
The family of God. Becoming just like Him.
