Lessons From the Child
Like Father Like Son
Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness . . .”
And so we were created in his image. Have you ever stopped to wonder
EXACTLY what being created in his “image” means to the person that you are?
Since God is Spirit, I believe that our likeness is a likeness of spirit – possibly
even emotions and feelings. The bible often speaks of emotions that God has
that are the same emotions that we possess as humans: joyous, proud, pleased,
jealous, angry and disgusted. I’m amazed that God has these emotional responses
to things that we, his children, have done . . . and continue to do. Because of our
“likeness”, I have to wonder if one way to know more about the intimate thoughts of
God is to look very deep within myself. This definitely isn’t to say that I’ll
understand his ways, but I can possibly gain slight insight into his emotions, and
consequently, better understand his actions and responses to me and mankind.
I’ve read many stories in the Bible and thought “Why would God react like that?” or
“I can’t understand what God was trying to do or get across to this person.”
Although I’m on a continuous journey of spiritual understanding, the meanings of
many scriptures and situations in the Bible have taken on a different meaning to me
as I better understand my nature and role in relation to God. Even though I am an
adult among humans, and a parent to my children, I am at best an infant to my
heavenly father. Dwelling on the literal interpretation of this reality has enabled me
to recognize similarities between our behaviors – between parent and child.
It’s interesting to think that God may view me in the same way I view my children since
I often find myself doing very similar things they do. All of a sudden, God’s actions
in scripture become crystal clear to me and I can understand why God responds as
he does to his earthly children and to me specifically. I do understand that I’m very
much a child (and child-like) to God. In fact, I’ve realized that even from a spiritual
perspective I am not nearly as mature as I would like to be – I’m still very much in the
infant stages.
The poems in this book are inspired by personal observations of my own children,
their very human and universal behaviors . . . and reflections in the mirror.
likeness . . .”
And so we were created in his image. Have you ever stopped to wonder
EXACTLY what being created in his “image” means to the person that you are?
Since God is Spirit, I believe that our likeness is a likeness of spirit – possibly
even emotions and feelings. The bible often speaks of emotions that God has
that are the same emotions that we possess as humans: joyous, proud, pleased,
jealous, angry and disgusted. I’m amazed that God has these emotional responses
to things that we, his children, have done . . . and continue to do. Because of our
“likeness”, I have to wonder if one way to know more about the intimate thoughts of
God is to look very deep within myself. This definitely isn’t to say that I’ll
understand his ways, but I can possibly gain slight insight into his emotions, and
consequently, better understand his actions and responses to me and mankind.
I’ve read many stories in the Bible and thought “Why would God react like that?” or
“I can’t understand what God was trying to do or get across to this person.”
Although I’m on a continuous journey of spiritual understanding, the meanings of
many scriptures and situations in the Bible have taken on a different meaning to me
as I better understand my nature and role in relation to God. Even though I am an
adult among humans, and a parent to my children, I am at best an infant to my
heavenly father. Dwelling on the literal interpretation of this reality has enabled me
to recognize similarities between our behaviors – between parent and child.
It’s interesting to think that God may view me in the same way I view my children since
I often find myself doing very similar things they do. All of a sudden, God’s actions
in scripture become crystal clear to me and I can understand why God responds as
he does to his earthly children and to me specifically. I do understand that I’m very
much a child (and child-like) to God. In fact, I’ve realized that even from a spiritual
perspective I am not nearly as mature as I would like to be – I’m still very much in the
infant stages.
The poems in this book are inspired by personal observations of my own children,
their very human and universal behaviors . . . and reflections in the mirror.
 | |  | |  | |  |
Copyright 2006 Turnspan Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.