- “She has her mother’s eyes.”
- “Those siblings could be twins.”
- “He has his father’s mannerisms.”
We often spot family members because they look alike.
What about the members in God’s family? Do we look alike? In a good way?
Do we mirror God’s image?
Humans Can Be Rough
I noticed the mean comment about five deep under a friend’s Facebook post on Sunday. About a politician. About morals. About issues.
They were friends. How does this happen? This ugliness.
It can come out of any of us. All of us.
Human to human, we can bring out the yucky in each other.
It’s not from God.
Humans Also Can Be Like This
But yet . . .
That same hour on Sunday afternoon, a new photo pops up elsewhere. Of a grandmother, three times over.
Her third grandchild was born three months ago, three months too early. Barely past the halfway point when she entered our world. In a dangerous time of virus and anxiety and fear.
Day after day, week after week, month after month, the baby girl was cared for in the NICU. Only mom and dad were allowed to visit.
But oh, she was loved. By the nurses, the doctors, the therapists in person.
And those of us who couldn’t show up in the flesh at the hospital? Our love for her was real too. The extended family, the friends, the church circles.
Human to human, we can bring out the best in each other.
Because of the God in each other.
To resemble the Father is to mirror His love.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
For No Other Reason
We’d never met the baby girl. She’d never done anything nice for us. She’d never given us a gift or a compliment. She’d never done us a favor.
It didn’t matter.
We loved her anyway. Without her doing a thing.
And now she’s home. With her mom and dad.
And in her grandmother’s arms. Alive and well.
The photo I saw was of the grandmother, one of my best friends, who had prayed and cried and waited, waited, waited. For the baby girl to come home. For this moment. For this love that is the best kind of love. Unconditional, unearned, immeasurable.
I can’t explain it.
Except for one reason: God.
Only God. Only God can imprint this kind of unexplainable love in humans He made, keeps making, in His image, to love outside of reason.
All of us.
When I see this kind of love, when I feel this kind of love, when I’m loved with this kind of love, I know there is a God. I see Him. I feel Him. And I love Him.
All month we’re looking at what it means to be made in the image of God. The picture of my best friend holding her preemie granddaughter is the image of God to me.
Who have you loved for no reason? Who shows God’s love to you? Please share in the comments.
That unconditional, all-encompassing love of God reflected in one another. Oh, what a perfect world it would be if we could all love each other as the Father loves us!
Blessings, Lisa!
Yes, I can hardly even imagine a world in which we all could love as we are loved. It sounds like heaven to me! Thanks, Martha.
What a beautiful reminder, Lisa. Yes, let’s value being kind rather than being right. Let’s reflect our Father’s love so that others can see our relationship to God. Let’s remember our family values.
I’m glad we’re in the same spiritual family, Laurie. I need my sisters and brothers in Christ to help me uphold our family values.
So Lovely. And what a beautiful picture. Babies can melt us and show our best side. Yes, we want to reflect our Father and let his love flow through us and out to all around us.
I sometimes think my most patient mothering years were when my kids were the very youngest. :) (Or maybe that’s just the farthest away in time and the memories are more faint, ha).
Nonetheless, yes, letting God’s love flow in us and out of us is a beautiful gift and responsibility He has entrusted us with! Thanks, Theresa.
Lisa, I had no idea I would be finding you here, but your words are beautiful, as always. Only God.
Thanks, Lauren. Yes, I write here as a member of the team as well as on my own blog. :) Appreciate you stopping in here. Yes, only God is the reason for the best kind of love!
Lisa,
What an encouraging and uplifting post! Yes, I’ve seen the ugly come out of the least likely people, but now more than ever, we are called to mirror the love of our heavenly Father. I’ve had a “sister from another mother” who has really been loving on me. It’s been wonderful because I don’t have any natural siblings. What a gift God has given me in her and it points me right back to Him.
Blessings,
Bev xx
How wonderful that you have such a special sister to be a genuine sister to you, Bev! It can help make up for some of the ugliness we see around us. I’m glad you are well-loved, my friend. It keeps us stable and sane to be loved, not only by God but also by other human beings.