Just Like You!

Devotional for Thursday, July 17, 2003 by Mary Daniel

With the arrival of summer, thoughts and plans turn towards camp for thousands of youngsters and their parents. Such was the topic on a recent talk show: how to find the perfect camp for your kids, how to handle homesickness, how to encourage your kids to have as wonderful a time as you did -- or wished you had.

Our offspring are long grown and gone on to creating their own lives, but talk of summer camp always reminds me of my experiences -- and makes me smile as I remember picking up our two eldest from camp one year. They were seven and eight, and we were picking them up from camp and continuing on with a summer holiday. We packed their things in the car, they said their good-byes to newly-made friends, and we were on our way.

Still excited from what was a wonderful first-time experience, our seven year old said, "Oh Mommy, I just loved my leader. She looks exactly like you -- except she has dark hair" (mine is/was strawberry blonde), "she wears glasses" (I didn't), "and she doesn't have any freckles!" (I do.)

What, I wondered, ever made my daughter think her leader and I looked alike? Let alone exactly alike! As someone explained it to me, it was our demeanour, our voices, our mannerisms. They must have been so similar as to remind my daughter of me.

That is what is meant in today's Scripture, not that we would look exactly like God, for we have no picture of him. As well, if we did, we would all look alike. What He means is that, in our actions, our demeanour, our attitude, our very being, we would reflect the likeness of who we know Him to be. And although we aren't able to obtain the perfection that is God, we can strive, in his power, to live a God-like life.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, as we move about our daily lives, may we always strive to continue to be just like you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

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Today's Music:     Take The Name Of Jesus With You.  

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