Resemblances

“One thing I know for sure, she’s your daughter. Her teeth are just like yours!”

The dentist took off his mask and explained that little Julie had several cavities that needed attention before her orthodontic work could begin. Jacque smiled and thanked the dentist, helped her daughter gather her things and walked out to the reception desk to set the appointment.

Since they lived close and the weather was so nice, they walked home that day with the usual mother-daughter chatter.

“Mom, does Dr. Greene know I’m adopted?”

“I thought he did, but obviously he doesn’t.” Jacque was smiling in her heart. It wasn’t often that people commented on the likenesses shared between her and Julie simply because there was no basis for it. They were two individual people with no commonality except the last name they shared. But something must have made Dr. Greene say that. Could Julie really resemble me?

The mere thought of family resemblance thrilled Jacque. She had so desperately wanted children. Motherdaughter Yet years of marriage passed without even so much as a late cycle. Nothing seemed to work. Jacque and John had spent most of their savings going to doctors only to learn there was no physical reason for them not to conceive. It was just not meant to be.

The more years that passed, the harder it became for them. Jacque and John’s siblings all had families – some of them were rather large. Yet, their little nest was empty. Finally, after nearly twelve years of disappointments, they made the decision to adopt.

Their experience was like so many others ... healthy babies were hard to come by. But one day they got the call; Julie became their long-awaited blessing. Their family was complete.

Jacque and July giggled the rest of the way home, delighting in the fact that they were family and Dr. Greene was clueless. Julie was indeed Jacque’s daughter.

* * *

Have you ever seen an older couple who seemed to have strong resemblances, almost like they could be brother and sister? Or, perhaps you’ve noticed a dog and its master bear strong similarities. Although sometimes almost hilarious, the truth is, the more time we spend with someone, the more we grow to resemble them. Such was the case with Jacque and her daughter, Julie, in the story.

There’s a point to all this and perhaps you’ve already figured it out. But, it has to do with resemblances. I wrote a short poem several years ago about resemblances.

RESEMBLANCES

Delicate flowers of the field
In effervescent, lively color
Bear the resemblance of their Maker
Clothed in beauty.

Majestic clouds in the sky
In lofty, towering billows
Bear the resemblance of their Maker
Clothed in magnificence.

Humble hearts submitted to God
In simple, heartfelt obedience
Bear the resemblance of their Maker
Clothed in righteousness.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness . . ." (Genesis 1:26)

Bearing the resemblance of our Maker. What a magnificent thought, don’t you think?

We look at the flowers in the field: exquisite beauty, delicately formed, exuding a fragrance no man can duplicate ... one that was created by God Himself as if to give us a foretaste (or foresmell) or the fragrance of Heaven.

We look toward the skies and see the clouds in their lofty billows as if carried in chariots of wind at the command of God’s own voice. Who could recreate such beauty? Not even the most priceless artistic rendering could hope to capture the true beauty of the clouds carefully crafted and yet precisely reformed and reshaped as if to speak to us of divine transformation.

How can we grow to resemble our Heavenly Father? By submitting to Him in heartfelt obedience, spending time in His presence, seeking His face, emulating His character, rejoicing in things which cause Him to rejoice, mourning over those things which cause him to mourn, taking time to interact with Him, listening to Him, and hearing His voice.

Wouldn’t it be so wonderful to be in the company of strangers and have someone seek you out to say, “One thing I know for sure, you are your Father’s daughter!”

As our children grow, they take on our attitudes, likes and dislikes, and even our mannerisms. They talk like we talk, they walk like we walk, and they become reflections of us … unquestionably ours as if mirrored images of our own character and ways (both good and not so good). As we influence them in their youth, we have the opportunity to prepare them to relate to their Heavenly Father, the original Adoptive Parent, teaching them to talk like He talks, walk like He walks, and become virtually one with Him as His son or daughter.

Those of us who adopt have a keener insight into what it means to become a child of God as we watch our own adopted children truly become our own, children who weren't ours but who became ours based on covenant promise.

Oh yes, there is so much more to adoption than what meets the eye. It truly is the perfect picture of God’s plan for all who live in the household of faith.

Comments

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Jan,
this was positively beautiful and revealing! What a precious comparison of our likeness to our Father God, especially for those of us, whom He has called out of unspeakable darkness into His glorious light. We, who felt we were outcasts and orphans, He has adopted to be His sons and daughters with the promise that we shall be like Him and are heirs with His Son, Jesus!!
And your poem should be illustrated and published... hmmm...that gives me an idea...
Ahava,
mid

Posted by: Mid Stutsman | September 28, 2008 at 08:36 AM