Lately I seem to be surrounded by baby announcements.   Family and friends are all having children and grandchildren. I love to see pictures because I am always fascinated by hereditary features of babies and their parents. 

"She has her mother's nose."  "He has grandpa's chin."  "Don't her eyes look like Aunt Sally's?"

I remember the first day we were home after our older son's birth as I was holding him, he smiled. "Wow, he's got my dimples." It just tickled me so. It was one of those moments that I treasure in my heart. 

We have had life long friends on seeing our older son walk into a room, "You can tell who is his daddy- he looks just like his dad at that age."  When our younger son was little, I remember a mother of one of his school mates came up to me, "Oh you must be his mom. He looks just like you." 

Of course, we see the resemblances that we want to see.  The same people who said our son looks like his dad, will, in another context,  say that same son looks like me. 

Not only physical features but our behavior and character can also resemble family members.   Somethings we cherish and others, not so much.  How many of us find a word or phrase that seems to slip from our lips and we groan inside, "Oh no, I sound just like my mother (or father)".   I have already apologized profusely to our sons for behavior that I witnessed with my own parents and I am sure I will exhibit as I age.  Some things I can change but others I am afraid it is inevitable. 

It has gotten me to think about whom do I resemble?  Maybe more importantly, after whom should I model myself?  

For me as a Christ follower, I do want to model myself after Christ.  The question might start with "what would Jesus do?"  but I think the next question I try to ask is  "what would Jesus think?".  How can I become more and more like Christ and less and less like my frail human self?   It is not that I want to think of myself more highly than I ought or that "I am so Christ-like".  Far from that.  Because we all fall short of that goal.  

Rather I want to be more like the person God intends me to be.  To be shaped by my experiences into a person more and more like Jesus.   I am reminded of an old song from Amy Grant.  Click here to hear her singing.

"Father's Eyes"

I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl
And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world
But that's all right as long as I can have one wish I pray
When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say

[Chorus:]
She's got her Father's eyes, her Father's eyes
Eyes that find the good in things
When good is not around
Eyes that find the source of help
When help just can't be found
Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain
Knowin' what you're going through, and feeling it the same
Just like my Father's eyes
My Father's eyes
My Father's eyes
Just like my Father's eyes

And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done
Good and bad they'll all be had to see by everyone
And when you're called to stand and tell just what you saw in me
More than anything I know, I want your words to be

[Chorus]

What about you?  Whom do you resemble?