Just like Dad

I heard a speaker say recently that at the end of life, the goal is to have God look at Jesus and then look at us and say, "they look the same." This made me think, what does it mean to look like our heavenly Father? How do we even do that?

I'll admit, I'm a daddy's girl. I've always respected my dad, looked up to him, and wanted to be like him. And the strangest thing is, the older I get, the more I realize how much we are alike. I certainly didn't try to pick up his mannerisms or passions or quirks. Dad didn't teach me to pick at the corners of pies rather than eat an entire piece (although he did show me how to do it better!), he didn't tell me how to be a somewhat strange extrovert, he didn't make me like NPR or oatmeal, he didn't tell me I needed to sing random songs or make up goofy dances in public; but yet, somehow all those traits have been passed along to me.
As I get older I pray that God would let me know and love His word like my dad, I've strived to have the conviction and urgency with which he lives his life and I've admired his sold-out, genuine, love for the Lord and people. I think in a small way, those things are being made aparant in my life. Just like dad.

I realized that I don't have to try to be like my dad. He's a piece of who I am and for better or worse at times, I'm destined to carry a part of him in my life that will look like He does. I don't have to make a plan or set goals of "How to be like my Father", in fact, ask any of my family and they would tell you we are more and more alike every year. Yes, I do work to mimic those aspects of my dad's life that I want to see in my own. I think of him waking up at 4:30am and think 6am isn't bad and it's worth it for those sweet morning hours. I think of him visiting people in need and sharing good news without apology and I think I could do more of that in my life. Even as I strive in some areas, it comes from a heart that knows my dad, has seen his character, and wants to be like him.

I think it's that way with our heavenly Father as well. Living this life is just looking at Dad and knowing that each year, because He is a part of our lives now, we will be more like Him. It's also knowing His character and asking that ours would be more like that because we have experienced the love and goodness from it. It's setting goals not because we have to but because we want to because we've seen His life and want to live the same.

I love you dad, always will. Thanks for being the example of what my life under my heavenly Father should be.

May you all know the freedom and security of being a child following in their Father's footsteps.