Following him is my handsome husband Jonathan. Note his eyebrows, eyes, grin, hairline.
Next, our son James. You guessed it. Note his eyebrows, eyes, grin, hairline.
And finally, Oliver--with the same eyes, eyebrows, grin, hairline.These faces leave little to the imagination as to what family they belong. Each generation, some of these same characteristics pass on. Though he passed before I ever had the opportunity to meet him, pictures of Mark's father also show some pretty familiar characteristics: eyebrows, eyes, grin, and hairline.
Now, obviously these boys and men share characteristics because these characteristics have been passed on from father to son for generations. As literal sons of the father whose image they bear, we aren't surprised to see these characteristics passed on. Why, then, do we doubt that our Father's image and characteristics may be found in us?
Our Heavenly Father's attributes may not be as visibly noticeable as the characteristics we can observe in these photos, nevertheless, we should be in search of these characteristics in ourselves and others. The attributes we share are spiritual.
Why might it be valuable to seek out these virtues in ourselves and others? What good comes from seeking the heavenly characteristics in others? Let's ask the man who flipped me off on the freeway last week, or the professor who failed to adequately communicate her assignment. Let's ask the child who knocked the glass off the counter, or got angry and hit his brother, or said an unkind word to a friend. The point is, when we seek out the divinity within those around us, it lends us grace to accept, forgive, and love their humanity as well.
Likewise, acknowledging that there is divinity within ourselves helps us to move passed mistakes in search of the seed of godliness within us that needs nurturing. Sometimes we can more easily forgive others than we can forgive ourselves, but remembering that the Creator of Heaven and Earth has placed some of His goodness and greatness within us means He thought there was something in us worth saving. In fact, it was so worth saving that He sacrificed His PERFECT son just to give us a shot.
1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
A life in the hands of God is capable of so much. As His children, our lives are most certainly in His hands. So, what does He want us to do with it and make of it?
Abraham 3:25-26 says, "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
"And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever."
Heavenly Father has planted in us a portion of His goodness. What does He want us to do with that? He wants us to grow it, nurture it, encourage it to thrive and spread so we can expand upon the divinity within us until divinity is all that is left within us. He wants us to BECOME LIKE HIM.
Most parents want their children to become better than we are. Heavenly Father doesn't have that possibility, but we can become as He is as we nurture that goodness within us, increase in faith and trust in Him, put off our selfish tendencies and heed His guidance.
This week, honor the divinity that is within YOU by listening to His voice, exercising discipline in our thoughts and behaviors, and acknowledging the divinity within those around you, even when they are showcasing their humanity instead.
Until next time, love one another as Jesus loves you.
xox,
Becca
